Help raise funds for life saving cancer treatment

Hi, well let’s start at the beginning my name is Melissa or Mel as all my friends and family call me.

I am a daughter, sister, mother, niece and teacher.

In May of this year (2023) the normal life that I had been living was shattered when I was dealt the devastating news that I had stage 4 bowel cancer that had spread to my liver.

I cannot even begin to describe that shocked numb feeling of someone sitting you down and handing you what felt like a death sentence. How can this be happening to me? I’m 38 with a 7 year old daughter and so much to live for. But I guess that’s the reality isn’t it? Cancer doesn’t care who you are or how old you are.

My life before Cancer - Well it was pretty busy, I had a teaching job that I loved, an active 7 year old who is my world (Grace)

I have a very close knit family and we love nothing more than spending time together.

The diagnosis - That’s a day I’ll never forget it’s etched in my memory and will be forever, it’s the day where my life and that of my family got completely turned upside. After barely processing the news myself that I had Cancer, I then had to break this devastating news to my family, which was a huge blow to them, it was like a bomb went off right underneath us.

Within hours I went under the knife for major abdominal surgery. I had a Hartmanns procedure to remove the sigmoid part of my colon and had a temporary stoma fitted to allow my bowel to heal - if I hadn't gone to A and E when I did I would have been dead within days due to a perforated bowel and peritonitis. Apart from the excrutiating pain I suddenly experienced (my bowel perforating) I had no other symptoms.

5 weeks after my surgery I heard words from an NHS oncologist that will forever haunt me, 'This is not a cancer we are going to be able to get rid of......'

I am now currently undergoing chemotherapy which I am responding well too.

Unfortunately long term treatment options in the UK for stage 4 are incredibly limited compared to the rest of Europe. Maintenance chemo is really the only option being offered to me but I don’t believe it is sustainable long term due to the incredibly damaging effects it has on the rest of the body, plus the fact it is designed to control the cancer not eradicate it.

I have done hours and hours of research and believe the best course of action lies in TACE and dendritic cell therapy in Germany.

Germany is miles ahead of any other country in Europe in terms of integrative oncology - but it comes at a hefty price. And that’s why I am here, setting up my first ever go fund me page.

Please help me reach my target so I can travel to Germany for treatment after my gruelling initial chemo is finished, I am not ready to give up, I won’t give up, I have so much to live for, and I will be around for as long as possible to see my little girl grow up.

Thank you all

Anyone finding themselves, loved ones etc. in a similar situation and wants advice or to talk - my inbox is always open.