Woman dies from an ultra-rare cancer that affects only 200 people globally
A young woman from Madrid with an ultra-rare cancer died after raising €60,000 for an experimental treatment
Madrid, Spain. Vanessa Espinosa, a 31-year-old woman from Madrid, died this Thursday after an intense battle with an extremely rare type of cancer: desmoplastic small round cell sarcoma (DSRCS), of which only about 200 cases have been recorded worldwide since its discovery in 1989.
Her story, marked by courage and hope, went viral weeks ago when she launched a campaign to raise funds to undergo an experimental treatment that was not covered by social security.
Vanessa, a preschool teacher, led a normal life until severe pain in her kidneys brought her to the emergency room. After several tests, she received the devastating diagnosis: a malignant tumor in the liver and abdomen, corresponding to a TDCPR (Retinoblastoma of the liver and abdomen).
This type of sarcoma primarily affects soft tissues, usually affects young patients—more commonly men—and is characterized by its aggressiveness, rapid growth, and resistance to conventional treatments.
In her fight, Vanessa underwent chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and various clinical trials, without obtaining the expected results. When the public system exhausted its options, her family launched a GoFundMe campaign that mobilized thousands of people.
In a matter of weeks, they managed to raise more than 60,000 euros, hoping to provide her with access to an experimental therapy called oncothermia, offered in private centers.
Oncothermia, based on the application of localized heat through electromagnetic waves, seeks to induce the death of tumor cells without damaging healthy tissue.
However, the technique has not yet been officially approved by entities such as the European Medicines Agency or the FDA, due to the lack of conclusive studies on its effectiveness.
Despite their efforts, Vanessa's body did not respond to the treatment. Her brother announced her death via social media: "With the pain in my heart, I am sorry to tell you that my sister passed away this morning. Things have gotten more complicated for her these past few days, and she was having more and more trouble breathing, so she is now resting."
The impact of her story and the solidarity received were not in vain. Vanessa's family has announced that the remaining funds will be donated to the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC) in gratitude for the support received and as a legacy of hope for those facing similar diseases.