Newly engaged Carla Ulcoq battles terminal cancer

A young midwifery student who had to have her eye removed because of cancer 13 years ago, was engaged and looking forward to a long and happy life until she started feeling unwell a few weeks ago.

A Gayndah woman who had her eye removed after cancer diagnosis at aged 13, is now battling a rare and incurable melanoma 13 years later.

A 26-year-old woman who survived a rare cancer as a teen is now in the final stages of her life at the age of 26, after being recently diagnosed with melanoma, with metastases in her liver.

A cruel twist of fate delivered a rare diagnosis of eye cancer to Carla Ulcoq when she was a 13-year-old girl growing up in the North Burnett - a diagnosis she survived after having her eye removed.

But 13 years later, newly engaged and looking forward to what should have been a long and happy life, Carla has been diagnosed with rare and inoperable melanoma with metastases in her liver.

This time she will not survive.

Her heartbroken sister, Anna Maloney, said there had been no way to stop or predict what had happened.

“After her eye was removed she had annual check-ups, and after 10 years they stopped because she was in the all clear,” Mrs Maloney said.

“At the end of January this year she became very sick, she thought it was food poisoning until she didn’t get better.”

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Carla was rushed to hospital with severe pain, and a few weeks later received the devastating diagnosis in Brisbane.

“The family are travelling back and forth from Gayndah to Greenslopes Private Hospital in Brisbane as Carla is having a weekly treatment in hospital with clinical trial drugs,” Mrs Maloney said.

“She must stay in overnight and can go home the following day providing she has no adverse reactions.

“There is no cure for this,” she said.

Carla Ulcoq and her sister Anna Maloney.

The clinical trial drugs Carla is receiving will give her more time with her family, if her cells accept the drugs.

She was studying midwifery in Melbourne before relocating back to Gayndah with her parents and her longtime partner, now fiance, Kane Fyfe.

“She loves spending time with family and friends and loves being active,” Mrs Maloney said.

The family have started a Go Fund Me to help fund the clinical trial drugs, travel costs and anything Carla would like to do.

It has already raised almost $17,000 of a $50,000 goal, and heartfelt words have flowed in support of the family.

Friend Bella Thompson said no words could describe what this beautiful family was going through.

“If you can help even in a small way please do,” she said.

Gayndah resident Tanya Oppermann said:

”Our thoughts, prayers and love are with you always, stay strong beautiful girl.”

Mrs Maloney said her family did not know how to cope.

“It’s been really tough, she’s my best friend, my support, my everything,” she said.

If you can donate, click here.

Originally published as Newly engaged Carla Ulcoq battles terminal cancer