A young mum, relieved her cancer treatment is finally working, now faces a heartbreaking reality — her “second chance” at life is now under threat due to the cost of ongoing treatment.

In March, Sariah Nesbit, 25, was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of gastric cancer, classified as advanced and inoperable.

Nesbit, the mother of 5-year-old Mahalia-June and 4-year-old Amāia, was given approximately one year to live with a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

At that time, surgery wasn’t an option because the cancer had spread.

“My only hope was a combination of chemotherapy and an unfunded immunotherapy drug called Nivolumab.

“The treatment worked better than anyone dared to hope,” Nesbit said in an updated post on Givealittle.

Young mum and law student Sariah Nesbit, 25, has been diagnosed with gastric cancer. Photo / Givealittle

After months of treatment, her scans in September revealed that the immunotherapy and chemotherapy had done their job.

“There was no spread of the cancer, and the response was so significant that my medical team changed my status from inoperable to operable,” she said.

“They checked the scans to see that my giant tumour, which was basically the size of my whole stomach, had shrunk almost completely.”

In October, Nesbit underwent a major surgery to remove the primary tumour.

Out of 24 lymph nodes removed, the cancer remained in only one, she said.

Now Nesbit faces the challenge of her cancer threatening to come back if she cannot fund the remainder of her treatment as soon as possible.

“My doctors basically said the cancer will come back around because mine is so rare and aggressive, that mine is likely to come back within a year or two, and possibly worse,” Nesbit told the Herald.

Sariah Nesbit has been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of gastric cancer that was deemed inoperable by her doctors. Photo / Supplied

‘Fight isn’t over yet’

Nesbit said while the surgery was a success, “the fight isn’t over yet”.

“To ensure the cancer does not return, my oncologists have recommended I continue the Nivolumab immunotherapy for another six months. This is to mop up any microscopic cells left behind and protect this second chance at life I’ve been given,” Nesbit said.

Because this drug remains unfunded in New Zealand, she said she needed to raise a further $45,000 to complete her treatment.

She was advised that if she does not continue treatment within two months, her cancer will likely start to grow.

“I am asking for your help one last time to cross this finish line.

“You have already bought me time, now you are helping continue to have a future with Mahalia-June and Amaia,” she said.

Sariah Nesbit was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of gastric cancer. Photo / Supplied

‘No mum should have to fight this damn hard’

Nesbit said after her operation, her children understood that “mummy’s a little bit better”.

“This year, the number one question is, “Mum, mummy, are you going to the doctors? Are you going to the hospital?” Because they’ve seen me go in and out so much."

Nesbit’s mother, Marie Nesbit, said on Facebook that her daughter isn’t asking for a miracle, but rather she is asking for time.

“Time to be a mum. Time to hold her girls. Time to watch them grow.

“No mum should have to fight this damn hard just to stay alive for her babies.”

Nesbit’s mother previously told the Herald that knowing treatment exists but comes with such a high price is deeply disheartening.

“I really want to be able to save her life with a card. I would give her my arm if I had to.”

Nesbit said she planned to go back to university next year to continue the law studies she was forced to give up this year.