The cancer is back.
Those five devastating words left 31-year-old newlywed Hannah Thomas feeling overwhelmed as her doctor continued to explain that she was “running out of options”.
The young woman has battled lymphoblastic leukemia for 19 months – enduring round after round of crippling chemotherapy and an excruciating bone marrow transplant for a second chance at life.
She enjoyed two-month periods in remission, giving her hope that she could continue her busy life without cancer.
The second time I went to remission was after my wedding. I had a new husband, a new last name, and I felt like we could finally have our own fairy tale. I felt like we were in silence,” she told FEMAIL.
Hannah Thomas, pictured with her husband Simon, are on their way to Singapore where she has one last shot at beating cancer.
Hannah was diagnosed at the age of 30 – she thought she would have the best years of her life – but has spent 19 months in and out of hospital.
“It felt like one of the first real positive steps forward.”
But then it came back.
Doctors tried treatment that pushed him back into remission earlier — but it didn’t work.
“We were just in shock. It was meant to work and we knew we didn’t have many options left,” she said.
Now she is on her way to Singapore to take part in a clinical trial that could be the key to saving her life.
She has lymphoblastic leukemia and has had chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant – but it didn’t work
Hannah flew to Singapore less than 24 hours after finding out she had been provisionally accepted into the program – her family came from Melbourne and Canberra to say goodbye
Speaking from the airport, Hannah admitted she was feeling tired and emotional but full of hope.
She had been paroled into the Car-T program less than 24 hours earlier.
“We texted our friends and family and told them we were going to Singapore to try the treatment and would be home before noon if they wanted to say goodbye.”
Hannah’s brother flew in from Melbourne to give her one last hug. Her mother, best friends and brother-in-law had all traveled from Canberra as well.
“I don’t have any tears left,” she said, explaining how difficult but beautiful the morning had been and her surprise at how many people managed to see her before her trip.
Hannah sobbed uncontrollably when she saw her brother, right, had come to give her one last hug along with her mother, left
Hannah has spent 19 months in and out of hospital since her shock diagnosis
“When I saw my brother I cried uncontrollably,” she said.
The family treated the morning as an opportunity for a final goodbye, anxiously hoping it was just a ‘see you later’.
Hannah has been granted bail on the $400,000 trial – but must undergo several tests to make sure her cells are compatible and that the cancer has not progressed too far.
She will then spend five weeks waiting for the Car-T cells to be developed by the lab.
“They’re going to give me chemotherapy to keep the cancer at bay,” she said.
“It’s a trick because they have to stop it progressing, but they also don’t want me to get too sick because I need to be strong enough for treatment,” she added.
Hannah will stay in Singapore for up to six months with her husband Simon by her side.
Hannah and Simon got married in September and have been together for 8 years
“I am very happy that he can be here. I couldn’t do this without him. He has taken care of me every day since I got sick,” she said.
Hannah previously disclosed her benign symptoms that led to her diagnosis.
She had been feeling a little tired for a few weeks and had swollen lymph nodes in her neck.
It was only when she went to the doctor, on the advice of a friend, to check her fertility that she discovered the symptoms were caused by a rare cancer.
‘Life got in the way, I didn’t rush to the doctor. “It wasn’t until I was diagnosed that everything made sense about how I felt,” she said.
Adult patients with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia have a five-year survival rate of only 50 percent. The cause remains unknown.
The couple’s life as they knew it instantly changed forever.
“We were completely devastated. Immediately our minds were racing,” Hannah said.
Having worked in public health, specifically cancer, for six years, she knew exactly how bad it was the moment the words left the doctor’s mouth.
The second time I went to remission was after my wedding. I had a new husband, a new last name, and I felt like we could finally have our own fairy tale. I felt like we were in silence,” she told FEMAIL
“It’s been a blessing and a curse all this time because I can be a part of my treatment conversations because I understand what they’re referring to, but it’s also so hard to listen,” she said.
Hannah had to start chemo soon, which meant there was no time for egg retrieval – which devastated the couple who always wanted children.
Now she just wants to survive, to have more time with her friends and family.
One of her friends has started one Go fund me to help Hannah and Simon with their medical bills in Singapore – which start at $400,000.
They will have to pay for five weeks of chemotherapy, as well as any other medical needs and living expenses.
They have withdrawn their super and done everything else they can to find the funds.
The couple have sold what they can, emptied their super accounts and asked for help to fund the trip to Singapore.
“My friends have helped me by selling my clothes and my wedding dress,” she said.
“Simon and I are so overwhelmed with gratitude for the support we’ve been shown on Go Fund Me – especially our friends and family who have really led the fundraising effort since it went live.
Hannah says if the treatment works, she will be eligible for another bone marrow transplant when she gets home.
There have only been a handful of people in clinical trials so far, with the first treatment starting in November 2022, but the results have been good.
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