Leah Ferguson, a 35-year-old yoga and meditation teacher from Victoria, Australia, was in the midst of planning her wedding, expecting her first child, and anticipating a European honeymoon when her life took an unexpected turn. A routine check-up during her pregnancy led to a precautionary MRI scan three months after giving birth to her daughter, Lulu. The scan revealed a lesion on her brain, which doctors identified as Grade 2 IDH-mutant glioma, an incurable form of brain cancer.
Initially experiencing only bouts of dizziness, which were attributed to a separate condition, Ferguson had no other symptoms commonly associated with brain tumors. The diagnosis came as a profound shock during a time when she was focused on new motherhood. The news meant facing her own mortality while navigating the early stages of raising a newborn.
Before the diagnosis, Ferguson was living a seemingly healthy life, having recently moved and taken up ocean swimming. Her pregnancy had progressed normally, with regular check-ups. However, the vertigo episodes during her pregnancy led her doctor to advise a delayed MRI scan until after the birth.
Following the scan in January 2023, Ferguson was directed to the emergency department. A neurosurgeon later informed her of the suspected glioma diagnosis. She made the difficult decision to postpone surgery until July 2023, allowing her to marry her partner, Josh, and spend more time with their infant daughter. The couple's wedding took place in March 2024, with Lulu present, before Ferguson underwent surgery.
During the operation, approximately 90% of the tumor was removed, but a small portion remained due to its location. This has left Ferguson with a "constant, quiet hum of uncertainty." Following surgery, she faced the challenge of receiving treatments like radiotherapy and chemotherapy, which required extensive travel away from her daughter. However, a new oral medication, vorasidenib, offered a more manageable treatment option.
In a significant development for patients with this condition, vorasidenib (marketed as VORANIGO) was listed on Australia's Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) starting August 1. This marks the first new treatment for Grade 2 IDH-mutant glioma in over two decades and offers eligible Australians a more accessible therapeutic option. Ferguson expressed gratitude for the PBS listing, stating it allows her to continue her treatment.
Despite the ongoing challenges of living with incurable cancer, Ferguson remains focused on quality of life and future milestones, including watching her daughter grow up. She and her husband recently took their long-delayed honeymoon to Europe. Ferguson has become an advocate and fundraiser for Brain Cancer Australia, encouraging others to hold onto hope and focus on life's joys amidst adversity.