A former dancer and choreographer diagnosed with multiple myeloma says she's "still got a lot more life" to live, with plans to undergo CAR-T cell treatment in China later this year.
Maria Wortman-Dabrowska's cancer journey began in 2014 with what she thought was "just back pain".
"Probably the first major symptom was fatigue, and I had bone pain in one of my legs, and then I started getting lots of pain in my spine that just didn’t really make sense," the 56-year-old told 1News.
At the time, Wortman-Dabrowska thought the pain could be related to her work as a part-time dancer and choreographer.
“I thought, you know, have I done something weird? But the pain didn’t go away – and it got worse and the pain just kept escalating.”
She said it was so bad that when she was visiting her elderly parents in Tauranga, she could “hardly keep up with them”.
They urged her to see a doctor and she then went from thinking there was nothing to worry about to "proper shock" as she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma.
Myeloma is an incurable blood cancer of the plasma cells, which are usually found in the bone marrow.
"It turned out I had six fractures in my spine, and I had multiple lesions throughout my whole body, through my cranium, my shoulder and through my right femur bone,” she explained.
In the year following this diagnosis, Wortman-Dabrowska slowly moved away from her dancing so she could focus on chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant and "so many meds" before being put into "full remission" in 2015.
She spent nine years in remission before a brief relapse in 2023 which included another stem cell transplant and more chemotherapy.
After another brief remission, her cancer returned with a vengeance in August 2025.
“I was sort of on a maintenance drug. I came off that and now I’m back on chemo, but I’m on the last drug that is available in New Zealand, and I’ve been told it won’t hold it very long. So my only option is now to go overseas to treat it.”
Wortman-Dabrowska said she plans to go to China in mid-June for CAR-T cell therapy treatment – a type of treatment that genetically modifies blood cells.
Currently the treatment is only available in New Zealand through clinical trials, with one underway at the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research.
'I can't do it on my own'
"It is an extremely promising therapy, I'm actually really excited to go and receive it," she said. "I just really hope that we start to see some of this in New Zealand."
However, the lofty $200,000 price tag for the therapy, travel and accommodation for three months abroad was not cheap.
A close friend set up a GiveALittle page, and Wortman-Dabrowska says she's "throwing everything at it".
"That’s the hardest part. I want to do everything I can to keep living… but I can’t do it on my own," she said.
While Wortman-Dabrowska may no longer be dancing on the stage, but says she's never lost her passion for creativity and ability to "adapt, flow, and keep going".
"I think my life now is more wrapped up in nature. And being outdoors, and being with animals, friends and family. I do have quite a beautiful life.
"My creativity really comes out in the garden," she laughs. "I know I’ve still got more life in me yet."
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