Go Fund page started for Squamish mom battling rare nose cancer

Friends of a local single mom have set up a Go Fund Me page to help her with expenses as she battles a rare and aggressive cancer.

Muriel Hanson, also known to her friends as Mouse, was diagnosed with a rare and very aggressive type of cancer originating in the epithelial layer of the nasal cavity or paranasal sinuses, according to information provided by her friend Janika Ekdahl on the donation page.

“Surgery is being planned, but with the nose being such a small area to work in the end result will be total removal of her nose to remove the cancer. Seven weeks of radiation and chemo will follow. Once the cancer is 100 per cent gone, they can work on reconstructing her nose. Going forward, Mouse’s appointments, surgeries and treatments will take place through the BC Cancer agency in Vancouver. Currently, Mouse is living in Squamish, approximately an hour to an hour and a half drive to Vancouver. The cost of gas to and from appointments, parking, medications, and accommodations are already adding up quickly. Please help support this awesome mom, daughter, sister, and friend. Any contribution is greatly appreciated.”

“She is a loving, single mom to 2 gorgeous girls, ages 6 and 9. She is also helping her mom (and has been for 10 years) to raise her niece and nephew. She is generous with her time, often volunteering in the community, including 4 years volunteering at her daughters’ school from helping with field trips, helping with hot lunches, organizing the brown bag lunch program which gives lunches to kids in need at the school, and she works on the school improvement plan. She often drives neighbours in need to appointments or the grocery store, and just generally helping out whenever she can,” Ekdahl wrote.

Over $4,000 had been donated so far, and the goal is $15,000.