Mukul Vashisht first noticed an unusual lump in his leg around June-July last year. But due to the pressure of securing enough money to pay for his uni fee, house rent, bills and expenses of his old parents in Punjab (India), he ignored it.
After a friend pushed him to go for a medical check in March this year, a medical diagnosis revealed Mukul has synovial sarcoma- a rare form of soft tissue cancer, which had by then spread further to his abdomen and lungs.
Dr Eshwar Madas who treated Mukul in the beginning said the prognosis was very poor and Mukul may not have more than 12 months to live.
After he received treatment at Westmead Hospital in Sydney for some time, his insurance refused to cover the cost of his treatment, even though he has the mandatory health insurance.
Mukul Vashisht Source: Supplied
Mukul, dependent on his friends, moved to Brisbane where he now lives with a family and is receiving treatment at a hospital.
In Australia since 2008 as a student, Mukul’s super savings are now running out fast due to the very expensive medication and treatment.
Mukul Vashisht before his cancer was diagnosed. Source: Supplied
He is having to undergo chemotherapy every third week.
In the fourth stage of sarcoma, Mukul is worried that chemotherapy may not work against the aggressive cancer cells for very long. He says because he is not covered by Medicare, he doesn’t have access to more advanced chemotherapy medicines which are more expensive.
Mukul can’t even go to India for his treatment because he believes he can get a better treatment here.
“My friends are supporting me here. But if I go to India, my family is already financially broken, I won’t be able to get any treatment. I may still live a year or two if I stay here,” he said.
Mukul’s own health isn’t the only thing worrying him. He is the only support of his old parents after his brother’s death in a road accident in India a few years ago.
Mukul Vashisht before his cancer was diagnosed. Source: Supplied
“I could just tell my father about this only a few days ago. I don’t know how to reveal this to my mother… she won’t be able to accept it,” Mukul told SBS Punjabi.
The Indian consulate in Sydney helped him with $3,000 earlier this year. He was told the embassy couldn’t provide for more help as there were thousands of pending application for financial assistance.
Mukul Vashisht Source: Supplied
Mukul says he is thankful for the help he has so far received from the community.
"The Parklea, Revesby and Turramurra gurudwaras helped me for my treatment. I am eternally thankful to them for their help, and also to those friends who chipped in, even several strangers who I didn't know, had never met them, took me to their homes and gave me money," he said.
Mukul’s friends have now set up an online fundraising campaign for him and are appealing to the community for help.
“Mukul needs our help. I am making a plea on his behalf, we are asking for donations please help us raise as much as we can for him and his family,” Abhishek Khurana wrote on the campaign page.
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