Hi,

Thank you for Clicking, sadly I am far from home, alone, and fighting cancer. Last year, I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and every day since then has been a struggle to survive, manage treatment, and keep up with the basic costs of living in a country where I have no immediate family.

My name is Patience, and I am an international student living in the UK. I came here with dreams, determination, and a heart full of hope. After years of studying, sacrificing, and working toward the future I imagined, I finally finished my university degree. I thought the hardest part was over and that I was finally ready to begin building the life I had worked so hard for.

What started as routine medical appointments while I was trying to manage my recently diagnosed PCOS turned into something I could never have prepared for. During those visits, doctors told me something that changed my life forever. I was diagnosed with breast cancer.

I was still trying to process the news of my PCOS diagnosis and what it could mean for my future, especially my chances of becoming a mother one day. I had even started thinking about freezing my eggs to protect that possibility. After my cancer diagnosis, my doctors advised that I could still try to do this before starting treatment. But as an international student facing visa limitations and financial barriers, it was simply not something I could afford.

Beginning chemotherapy without taking that step has weighed heavily on me every single day, especially knowing that the treatment can cause early menopause and make the possibility of having children in the future uncertain. The emotional and mental toll of living with that uncertainty is something I carry with me constantly.

As part of my treatment, I underwent a mastectomy to remove the affected tissue. I also had an axillary lymph node dissection, during which 19 lymph nodes were removed to check whether the cancer had spread beyond the breast, which unfortunately it had. The surgeries have taken a huge toll on my body and spirit, and trying to heal while being alone has been one of the toughest parts of this journey. Let’s not even talk about the long term side effects I wake up to every day.

I am currently going through chemotherapy, and every session takes a heavy toll on my body. The exhaustion and severe muscle and bone pain make even simple daily tasks incredibly difficult. Trying to keep up with work just to cover my bills has become a constant struggle, but life’s responsibilities continue regardless.

Since last year, I have been trapped in a cycle of borrowing just to cover basic bills, and I have already built up multiple debts. Honestly, I do not know how much longer I can hold on. Rent, bills, food, transportation to hospital and chemotherapy appointments, and everyday living costs continue piling up while I fight the hardest battle of my life.

Perhaps the hardest part of this journey is that I am facing it completely alone. I have no immediate family here in the UK, and going through surgeries, hospital visits, and chemotherapy without loved ones nearby has been deeply lonely and emotionally heavy.

I have always tried to stand on my own feet, but right now I cannot do this alone. I created this fundraiser so I can focus on treatment and healing without constantly worrying about how I will survive each day.

The funds raised will help cover:

• Rent and essential utilities

• Food and daily living expenses

• Transportation to hospital and chemotherapy appointments

• Clearing up backlog debts accumulated since my diagnosis last year

• Basic support so I can focus on recovery

Every contribution, no matter how small, lifts a weight from my shoulders and reminds me that I am not completely alone in this fight. Even simply sharing my story could make a real difference by helping it reach someone who may be able to help.

Every day I fight to keep going, to keep being my happy, goofy self even when the pain, fatigue, and fear feel overwhelming. Your support, your care, and even your kindness remind me that there is still so much good in the world. It gives me the strength to face each treatment, each hospital visit, and each challenge with a little more courage than the day before.

I am holding on to the dream of a life I still believe in, one where I can recover, heal, and continue building the future I worked so hard for. Your compassion helps me feel less alone and gives me the space to focus on what matters most: healing, surviving, and finding hope again.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for taking the time to read my story, for caring, and for standing with me during this unimaginably difficult time.

With all my gratitude,

Patience