Perth Girl’s Proton Therapy Plan Down the Gurgler — Government Says Not Enough Proof
Little Lenna, 5, diagnosed with ultra-rare and aggressive tongue-base cancer, denied federal funding for US proton therapy — “too late for regret,” say devastated parents. A fight for survival Unfolds.
Story with a Dash of Aussie Banter & Facts
Perth’s own pint-sized powerhouse, Lenna Housseini (5), was diagnosed with Malignant Rhabdoid Tumour (MRT) at the base of her tongue — a freakish cancer almost never seen down under.
In just THREE months, this happy kid turned into a battler facing a 60% risk of not surviving, and even if she does, it’s likely she won’t be able to speak properly.
Her docs recommended proton therapy in Florida — a high-precision cancer zapper better than our crude X-ray version. But the feds flicked their bags, saying “no dice” — not enough global data to justify the cost under the Medical Overseas Treatment Program.
Raising half a million privately? Too little, too late. They can’t waste weeks reapplying — Lenna’s clock is ticking.
“It’s too late to complain… too late to even have the regret,” her father Amin said. “We don’t have time to regret — we have to stay positive”.
Her mum Mahsa warned: the six‑cm tumour is messing with her jaw and tongue growth — speech could be a lifelong challenge.
Proton Therapy vs. X-ray Therapy — The Stats
| Therapy | Precision | Damage to Healthy Cells | Speech/Jaw Side-Effects | Availability in Oz |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proton Therapy | Pinpoint accurate | Minimal | Lower risk | Not yet available |
| X‑ray Radiation | Wide beam | High | Significant risk | Standard in Oz |
System-wide Fail: Proton Therapy in Australia
- The $500 million Bragg Centre in Adelaide has sat EMPTY for years.
- Original US supplier ditched; new deal yet to be inked.
- Federal Health Minister says it’s still on the books, but realistic timeline? Years—maybe decades.
That’s time Lenna doesn’t have.
Treatment Timeline & Outcomes For Lenna
| Date | Event | Details |
|---|
| Jan 2025 | Healthy & Happy | Lenna living a normal 5-year-old life in Perth’s southern suburbs. |
| Mar 2025 | Lump Found, MRT Diagnosed | A small bump on her neck leads to shocking diagnosis: Malignant Rhabdoid Tumour at base of tongue. |
| Jun 2025 | Survival Odds 40% / Bags Packed | Doctors recommend proton therapy in Florida. Parents ready to go. |
| Jun 2025 | Federal Knock-back | Denied funding through Medical Overseas Treatment Program. Weeks lost. |
| Jul–Oct 2025 (est.) | Proton Therapy Still Years Away | Bragg Centre in Adelaide still empty. Proton tech unavailable. |
| Present | Going Ahead with X-ray Therapy in Perth | Less precise, higher risk of lifelong damage, especially to jaw and speech. |
Lenna’s battle is a heart-wrenching cocktail of rare diagnosis, limited treatment options, and red‑tape that could cost her the chance to speak — and maybe even live. Proton therapy offers more hope and less collateral damage, but our local infrastructure lags far behind.
