Teen Finishes High School Year After Brain Cancer Diagnosis

Just six days before Christmas 2024, 17-year-old Sienna Barbara had a severe seizure at her Blue Mountains home that revealed a 3.6-centimeter brain tumor. Her mother Julia never thought she'd see her daughter finish high school.

Surgeons successfully removed 98 percent of the astrocytoma tumor, leaving only a small portion on her optic nerve to protect her eyesight. Sienna spent the next six months recovering before returning to her year 12 classes in June.

"My memory was impaired because of my surgery," Sienna said. Despite the challenges of returning to normal coursework, she pushed through her exams and received her results the week before Christmas 2024, almost exactly one year after her diagnosis.

To stop the remaining tumor from growing, doctors prescribed vorasidenib, a groundbreaking treatment that's the first new drug targeting this type of brain cancer in 30 years. The medication effectively crosses the blood-brain barrier where traditional treatments couldn't reach.

But there's a massive catch. The drug isn't covered by Australia's Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, costing Sienna's family $77,000 out of pocket. Julia considered selling their house to afford it.

"She's completely worth that. She's worth all of it," Julia said. The family turned to crowdfunding and community fundraisers to help cover costs.

Medical oncologist Dr. Hao-Wen Sim, who recommended the treatment, says he has "high hopes" for vorasidenib. He's working with the drug's supplier, Servier, to get it listed on the PBS, which would drop the cost to just $30 to $40 per treatment.

The initial application was rejected in July due to insufficient clinical evidence, but Servier is resubmitting in March. An estimated 3,230 Australians living with this type of brain cancer could benefit from affordable access.

Why This Inspires

Sienna could have taken a year off to recover. Instead, she returned to finish what she started, proving that determination can overcome even the toughest obstacles. Her story highlights both personal resilience and a larger fight for accessible healthcare.

Now she's enrolled in a nursing assistant course through Nepean Hospital, working toward her dream of becoming a paramedic. "That's my personality as a career," she says.

One year after the seizure that changed everything, Sienna isn't just surviving but building the future she always imagined.