Karishma's Breast Cancer Treatment
Donation protected
Hello,
I am Karishma Patel from Rickmansworth, UK. I was 29 years old when I was originally diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2012. I struggled through the physical and emotional trauma of NHS treatment of Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy, Mastectomy surgery and re-construction during the following years. I tried to keep a sense of normality to my life during this period by working whenever I could. Except for some remaining cosmetic surgery, I was clear and on my way to recovery by mid 2013, life was beginning to seem normal. My hair was growing back nicely.
In 2015, two liver tumors were found during periodic scans. They were eradicated by localized needle-tip radiation shortly thereafter.
Its now 2016 and I am now 34, and unfortunately the cancer cells have come back earlier this year, presently in my sternum and sacrum. There are also tumors in my liver and my left lung, they are relatively small: both no larger than 2cm. There is time to do something about it if I act quickly.
Things have changed significantly since my initial prognosis. I have committed my life to preventative care and healthy living for myself and others. I have undertaken a strict dietary regime, no diary, no sugar and lots of fresh organic food. I have paid for second opinions (two doctors in Harely street) not offered by NHS. I self-fund recurring Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy to improve reparative functions I've paid £1900 for the RGCC (Chemo sensitivity test), which determines which conventional drugs and natural substances (supplements) are responsive to my body. NHS does not do this, rather choosing to flood the body with ALL Chemo drugs. Turns turns out that Tamoxifen, tumeric and various other supplements do nothing for my DNA/body!!! I donate my supplements that dont work for me to other cancer patients.
Based on my '23andMe' DNA report, I have paid for a specialist in nutrigenomics, which is nutrition based on your DNA; to advise specific supplements to help improve certain metabolic pathways. I use off-label drugs from the Care Oncology Clinic in Harley street, osteopathy, acupuncture, homeopathy and aromatherapy. All of this, at great personal expense, to fill in the gaps left by NHS. Oh and not to forget the countless hours of medical research. Did you know, UK has the lowest cancer survival rates in all of Europe! Crazy right?
I am reaching out to Friends and the GoFundMe community to break this cycle of hope and desperation in my life, to raise funds for specially targeted treatment in Germany that NHS in UK does not provide or offer. (In fact, NHS regulations legally prevent their medical staff from even discussing alternative and custom treatments, as governed by the 1939 Cancer Act Law). A draconian law, that doesn't benefit anyone but big pharma and the governement.
I need a permanent proactive solution, rather than the reactive care offered by NHS. I need help.
The treatments that show amazing promise are called HIFU, TACP and TACE. They are specifically targeted treatments that are localized and more aggressive chemotherapy, but with a significant reduction of treatment side effects. Basically, the Chemo drug is locally delivered to the targeted area directly, allowing 5 to 10 times more drug to reach the area, and adheres to the cancer cells to kill them, rather than attacking the body's entire immune system. TACP is for my lung tumor, TACE is for my liver tumor, and the bone tumors can be addressed with HIFU.
Below is a link to the Hallwang clinic in Stuttgart, which offers most of the needed services under one roof.
http://www.hallwang-clinic.com/your-oncological-journey-cancer-treatment/advanced-treatment-concepts.html
Below is a link to Doctor Vogal's clinic in Frankfurt, followed by a YouTube link to see the doctor in action, with a visual explanation that is better than I can explain. As of now, he will be my first stop for TACE/P
http://www.leading-medicine-guide.com/en/Specialist-Radiology-Frankfurt-Prof-Vogl
https://youtu.be/4BJiDtSJcxQ
After the localized chemotherapy, a session or two of LITT (laser-induced thermotherapy) may be required to clean out remaining bits of tumor.
The final step of this phase is the Immunology treatment, RIGVIR, which is designed to break the cycle, and significantly reduce the chance of recurrence by strengthening and targeting my immune cells with a catered mix based upon my genetics and hormones.
I will not know how many times I will need it and if it will work, but anything is worth trying.
Cost estimates are vague at this point: The TACE/TACP and HIFU treatments are about €3900 each (£ 3500 or $4300 US). Hopefully, I will need only one of each. The results of each treatment return in about 8 weeks.
The immunotherapy might cost up to 10,000 Euros with individual testing and repeated visits to Germany.
Travel and Lodging expenses will add significant cost as well, with approximately £250 round trip flight and AirBnB expenses at about £50 per night. As I have run out of sick days at work, I must also take off work with no pay. Most appointments and procedures will be done 'Out Patient' without costly hospital stays.
Because my financial goals here are estimates and I don't know what the future holds, if I receive more money than I need, I will pass the balance on to other similar GoFundMe campaigns eventually. At this point though, I have nearly emptied my own savings, and would likely hold on to any additional balance as insurance until I am all-clear medically. I will raise or lower my financial goals as I learn more.
Words will fail me to say how utterly grateful I am for any donation, and to know that someone has read my story. This experience has changed my life and humbled me, as I am not normally the type to ask and accept help from others. I would like to think that I can help others in similar situations as well and I already do by being in a facebook support group. I would like to keep in touch with you to share my story and say thank you. Please help me spread the word and help me save my life from this awful disease.
I am Karishma Patel from Rickmansworth, UK. I was 29 years old when I was originally diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2012. I struggled through the physical and emotional trauma of NHS treatment of Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy, Mastectomy surgery and re-construction during the following years. I tried to keep a sense of normality to my life during this period by working whenever I could. Except for some remaining cosmetic surgery, I was clear and on my way to recovery by mid 2013, life was beginning to seem normal. My hair was growing back nicely.
In 2015, two liver tumors were found during periodic scans. They were eradicated by localized needle-tip radiation shortly thereafter.
Its now 2016 and I am now 34, and unfortunately the cancer cells have come back earlier this year, presently in my sternum and sacrum. There are also tumors in my liver and my left lung, they are relatively small: both no larger than 2cm. There is time to do something about it if I act quickly.
Things have changed significantly since my initial prognosis. I have committed my life to preventative care and healthy living for myself and others. I have undertaken a strict dietary regime, no diary, no sugar and lots of fresh organic food. I have paid for second opinions (two doctors in Harely street) not offered by NHS. I self-fund recurring Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy to improve reparative functions I've paid £1900 for the RGCC (Chemo sensitivity test), which determines which conventional drugs and natural substances (supplements) are responsive to my body. NHS does not do this, rather choosing to flood the body with ALL Chemo drugs. Turns turns out that Tamoxifen, tumeric and various other supplements do nothing for my DNA/body!!! I donate my supplements that dont work for me to other cancer patients.
Based on my '23andMe' DNA report, I have paid for a specialist in nutrigenomics, which is nutrition based on your DNA; to advise specific supplements to help improve certain metabolic pathways. I use off-label drugs from the Care Oncology Clinic in Harley street, osteopathy, acupuncture, homeopathy and aromatherapy. All of this, at great personal expense, to fill in the gaps left by NHS. Oh and not to forget the countless hours of medical research. Did you know, UK has the lowest cancer survival rates in all of Europe! Crazy right?
I am reaching out to Friends and the GoFundMe community to break this cycle of hope and desperation in my life, to raise funds for specially targeted treatment in Germany that NHS in UK does not provide or offer. (In fact, NHS regulations legally prevent their medical staff from even discussing alternative and custom treatments, as governed by the 1939 Cancer Act Law). A draconian law, that doesn't benefit anyone but big pharma and the governement.
I need a permanent proactive solution, rather than the reactive care offered by NHS. I need help.
The treatments that show amazing promise are called HIFU, TACP and TACE. They are specifically targeted treatments that are localized and more aggressive chemotherapy, but with a significant reduction of treatment side effects. Basically, the Chemo drug is locally delivered to the targeted area directly, allowing 5 to 10 times more drug to reach the area, and adheres to the cancer cells to kill them, rather than attacking the body's entire immune system. TACP is for my lung tumor, TACE is for my liver tumor, and the bone tumors can be addressed with HIFU.
Below is a link to the Hallwang clinic in Stuttgart, which offers most of the needed services under one roof.
http://www.hallwang-clinic.com/your-oncological-journey-cancer-treatment/advanced-treatment-concepts.html
Below is a link to Doctor Vogal's clinic in Frankfurt, followed by a YouTube link to see the doctor in action, with a visual explanation that is better than I can explain. As of now, he will be my first stop for TACE/P
http://www.leading-medicine-guide.com/en/Specialist-Radiology-Frankfurt-Prof-Vogl
https://youtu.be/4BJiDtSJcxQ
After the localized chemotherapy, a session or two of LITT (laser-induced thermotherapy) may be required to clean out remaining bits of tumor.
The final step of this phase is the Immunology treatment, RIGVIR, which is designed to break the cycle, and significantly reduce the chance of recurrence by strengthening and targeting my immune cells with a catered mix based upon my genetics and hormones.
I will not know how many times I will need it and if it will work, but anything is worth trying.
Cost estimates are vague at this point: The TACE/TACP and HIFU treatments are about €3900 each (£ 3500 or $4300 US). Hopefully, I will need only one of each. The results of each treatment return in about 8 weeks.
The immunotherapy might cost up to 10,000 Euros with individual testing and repeated visits to Germany.
Travel and Lodging expenses will add significant cost as well, with approximately £250 round trip flight and AirBnB expenses at about £50 per night. As I have run out of sick days at work, I must also take off work with no pay. Most appointments and procedures will be done 'Out Patient' without costly hospital stays.
Because my financial goals here are estimates and I don't know what the future holds, if I receive more money than I need, I will pass the balance on to other similar GoFundMe campaigns eventually. At this point though, I have nearly emptied my own savings, and would likely hold on to any additional balance as insurance until I am all-clear medically. I will raise or lower my financial goals as I learn more.
Words will fail me to say how utterly grateful I am for any donation, and to know that someone has read my story. This experience has changed my life and humbled me, as I am not normally the type to ask and accept help from others. I would like to think that I can help others in similar situations as well and I already do by being in a facebook support group. I would like to keep in touch with you to share my story and say thank you. Please help me spread the word and help me save my life from this awful disease.
Organizer
Karishma Patel
Organizer
