Maitland woman Janine Aqil’s desperate plea for help after terrifying cancer diagnosis

A woman “with a heart of gold” has one last chance to fight for her life after a routine blood test revealed a sinister condition taking over her body.

Janine Aqil was on her way to becoming a teacher's aide working with kids with special needs. But a routine blood test revealed a sinister condition taking over her body.

A Maitland woman has one last chance to fight for her life after a routine blood test revealed a rare and aggressive cancer taking over her body.

Janine Aqil was diagnosed with stage 4 bile duct cancer last year after a routine blood test came back with abnormal results.

“My doctor sent me for immediate scans and even more blood tests,” Mrs Aqil said.

“(Then) I was (told) to rush to the emergency department.”

The scans and tests revealed Mrs Aqil was suffering a serious infection, leading doctors to order a slew of tests. A biopsy later confirmed the terrifying diagnosis.

Janine Aqil requires regular ongoing medical treatment for her aggressive bile duct cancer.

At the time, Mrs Aqil was studying to become a teacher’s aide and dreamt of working with kids with special needs.

But as he condition continued to deteriorate, Mrs Aqil was forced to pull out of her course.

Despite undergoing several rounds of chemo and immunotherapies, the cancer continued to grow, spreading to her liver and lymph nodes.

Earlier this year, Mrs Aqil was given the devastating news her cancer was “incurable”.

Janine undergoing treatment.

Janine went through chemotherapy without success.

“There hasn’t been a single day I haven’t cried,” Mrs Aqil said.

“I am not able to walk properly unless someone is nearby or do any daily chores.

“I have extreme palpitations, weakness, painful joints, shortness of breath, anxiety and panic attacks.”

Mrs Aqil’s husband Arsalan Aqil has become her sole carer with the family relocating to Sydney so she can access palliative care.

However, advanced experimental cancer treatments in the US might be Mrs Aqil’s last chance to battle her grim diagnosis.

Janine has one more chance to fight for her life.

But with the family almost $19,000 in debt and surviving on Centrelink payments, Mrs Aqil’s life rests in the hands of kind-hearted people.

“I’m the kind of a person who would never ask for anything unless it’s an extreme situation,” Mrs Aqil said.

“I am desperate for help. I want to get better and live a normal life like everyone else.”

Mrs Aqil’s mother Trish Bolan has since set up a GoFundMe page dedicated to raising funds to help her daughter access the critical lifesaving treatment.

“This is something I could never thought I would do,” Mrs Bolan said.

“There hasn’t been a single day that we didn’t cry our heart out and console each other

“If you know Janine, then you know how humble, polite and caring she is with an absolute heart of gold.

“Any donations to help them through this time would mean the world to us.”