Community bands together to help Glenmore Park’s Ian Price battle colorectal cancer

A devoted father has received a shocking colorectal cancer diagnosis, causing his family’s world to “fall apart”. Now the community has banded together to help him fight the battle.

Ian Price in hospital after being diagnosed with stage four colorectal cancer.

A devoted Glenmore Park father has received a shocking colorectal cancer diagnosis, causing his family’s world to “fall apart”.

Ian Price, who is a huge Penrith Panthers fan and likes to jokingly introduce his only wife Sarah to people as his first wife, has lost his sense of humor after being told he could have up to seven months left to live.

Mrs Price told this publication the family had experienced a turbulent few months consisting of medical appointments, hospital stays and trips to the US for treatment after the 54-year-old was diagnosed with stage four colorectal cancer.

The March diagnosis came as a shock to the Motor Traders’ Association manager and his family, considering he had not experienced any symptoms leading up to the tragic discovery.

“There was absolutely no signs. He thought he had a haemorrhoid or something when a doctor sent him for a routine colonoscopy and when the results came back, our world just fell apart,” Mrs Price said.

Ian Price and his wife Sarah Price at an event.

“You couldn’t get a worse diagnosis than what we got.”

Mr Price began FOLFOX chemotherapy treatment on Wednesday at the GenesisCare cancer treatment centre, Kingswood, but he was rushed to the emergency department of Nepean Hospital days later after a suspected heart attack.

Ian Price awaits further chemotherapy sessions.

He has remained at the hospital and is awaiting further chemotherapy sessions.

Mrs Price said the medical professionals informed them Mr Price had a chance of overcoming the dire diagnosis.

“We’ve just got to get ahead of the game to give him the best chance, not just at survival or buying him some time, but actually beating stage four cancer – which is rare,” she said.

The community banded together this week and has raised more than $69,000 in just three days to help the Price family through a GoFundMe campaign.

The Price family has many supporters.

“It’s amazing and we are eternally grateful,” Mrs Price said. “It’s reaching people far and wide, which is fantastic.”

When the pair first found out about the diagnosis, they took out a loan and headed to California to see Dr Kevin Burns receive treatment, which is not yet being offered in Australia, for liver tumours that had formed after the cancer had spread.

Mr Price will need to return to the US for more sessions with Dr Burns in August.

“Ian is determined not to give up and is ready to fight this with whatever it takes,” Mrs Price said.

Originally published as Community bands together to help Glenmore Park’s Ian Price battle colorectal cancer