A nine-year-old girl from Fort Vermillion in northern Alberta is battling a rare type of cancer that doctors say they have never seen in such a young person.
Shanelle Meneen went to the doctor to check out a lump that had formed in the corner of her eye. At first, doctors thought she had an abscessed gland and prescribed her a few rounds of antibiotics. A CT scan later revealed the lump was much more and she was sent to the Stollery in Edmonton.
“At first she was scared when they told her she had cancer,” said Sarah Meneen, Shanelle’s mom.
“She was scared when they told her she was going to lose her hair, that she has to be in the hospital every week and she has to be tested for the rest of her life.”
“I’m scared,” Sarah Meneen said through tears. “It’s hard seeing her going through all of this. She’s tired of the hospitals and doctors. She struggles when she has to be admitted.”
It was early December when doctors noticed a change in Shanelle’s eye, and on Jan. 30, she had surgery to remove the tumour.
She next underwent IV chemotherapy treatments to remove what was left of the tumor following surgery. Shanelle is now on her sixth round of chemo to rid her body of the rabdomyosarcoma.
Her family travels seven hours each way, once a week, to Edmonton for her treatments. Her mom and dad sleep at the hospital, while their three younger children stay at home.
Shanelle has been approved for a type of radiation treatment that she can only receive in Jacksonville, Fla., where the family will be heading once they finalize the dates. The treatment must take place during her 14th week of chemotherapy.
In an act of solidarity and support, Shanelle’s family shaved their heads as soon as the young girl started to lose her hair. They’ve also started a GoFundMe to help cover the travel and medical expenses.
“We have a big family and everybody is coming together to help in any way they can,” Sarah said.
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