Shalen Harsoo is desperate need of expensive cancer treatment to stay alive.
Image: Supplied
A 29-year-old Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal, man is clinging to hope after doctors told him he may have only two to four months to live without urgent treatment for a malignant tumour that has spread to his vital organs.
Shalen Harsoo was able to afford last year’s expensive doses of treatment through a crowdfunding initiative, but those funds have since been depleted, leaving him in urgent need of financial assistance to continue life-preserving care.
Despite his own medical challenges, Harsoo continues to offer encouragement to other cancer patients.
He told the Daily Voice, the Daily News’ sister title, that his health crisis began on March 14, 2023, when he was rushed to hospital suffering severe stomach cramps.
A computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a tumour that had caused a full bowel obstruction, forcing doctors to operate immediately.
Harsoo said: “My surgeon told me my bowel was three times the normal size and about 48 hours away from rupturing, which would have ended my life.”
The emergency surgery left him with a colostomy bag (a pouch attached to the abdomen that collects waste after bowel surgery), but days later doctors confirmed the tumour was cancerous and had already spread to his liver.
Harsoo said: “I was told before starting treatment that the cancer had spread and was already stage 4. I had no symptoms before that day that suggested anything was wrong.”
He underwent multiple rounds of chemotherapy, including six cycles of oxaliplatin and later seven cycles of irinotecan (chemotherapy drugs), but neither managed to stop the cancer’s progression.
The treatment also caused permanent nerve damage and saw him lose more than 30 kg.
After being placed on comfort care, Harsoo’s health deteriorated significantly, with fluid accumulating in his stomach and lungs.
Harsoo said: “They drained seven litres of fluid from my stomach and another 1.5 litres from my right lung. I couldn’t walk or even wear shoes.”
A glimmer of hope came when a viral BackaBuddy campaign helped him pay for four rounds of immunotherapy in 2025.
The treatment made a significant difference, shrinking the tumours in his liver.
Harsoo said: “After four cycles, I never felt better. The scan showed the tumours had shrunk, and I was overwhelmed with joy.”
But when the funding stopped, so did the treatment.
His latest CT scan on April 8 showed the cancer had spread further, with his liver enlarged again, fluid returning, and his bile ducts blocked.
Still, Harsoo refuses to give up.
He said: “My oncologist says immunotherapy is the only option left, but I simply cannot afford it. I’m hoping this campaign can help save my life.”
Harsoo has now launched a new BackaBuddy campaign in the hope that the same community support that once gave him a second chance can do so again.
Those wanting to help can donate here: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/help-shalen-keep-fighting
DAILY NEWS