Breakthrough treatment fulfils young cancer patient’s dying wish

The NSW family of a teenage girl who died of a rare and aggressive form of bone cancer have raised thousands of dollars in research.

Anya Zuber was just 13 years old when she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of bone cancer called osteosarcoma.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Sydney researchers create treatment to fight an aggressive form of bone cancer.

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During her six-year battle, Anya had been given the all-clear twice.

However, the cancer proved relentless and in 2020 it came back.

“She just said, ‘Mum, there’s something wrong’,” Anya’s mother Elizabeth Egan told 7NEWS.

“And 10 days later she was gone.”

At age 19 Anya died, however, before she passed she made her parents promise her death wouldn’t be without purpose.

The family have since raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Anya’s Wish, a research project that has made global breakthroughs.

“She would be so proud,” Egan said.

Researchers have since uncovered a number of drugs they believe could successfully help target osteosarcoma.

“We’ve been able to generate, at this point, nine new and unique osteosarcoma cells,” Dr Emmy Fleuren told 7NEWS.

Researchers say one of the drugs is capable of destroying the cancerous cells without damaging healthy surrounding tissue.

However, in order to continue their important research, Fleuren says the team needs additional funding.

“We are really reliant on donations and all these dollars go towards research projects like Anya’s wish,” she said.

In October, Egan will be fundraising for the Children’s Cancer Institute through her “19 for 19 Challenge” in honour of the “19 precious years that Anya lived for”.

“Anya’s Wish was for her body and experience with the disease to be focussed on the ongoing research to end childhood cancer, particularly sarcoma,” Egan said.

“Children’s Cancer Institute is the only medical research institute in Australia wholly dedicated to cure childhood cancer and pioneer safer treatments for children – that’s why I’m taking on a challenge in her memory.”