Donate to help raise money for Cancer treatment.

Hi, my name is Andrea, I'm 46 and have 4 wonderful children, an awesome step-son and a supportive partner!

 

I'm fundraising to help towards the cost of a potential life saving treatment to be added into my current treatment, that is not funded by the NHS. My current diagnosis is Stage 4 incurable bowel cancer. This additional drug has proven success in colorectal cancer that has metastased to other organs. One studys data suggests the liver tumours of 78% of patients shrink to such a degree that they are eligible for potentially life-saving surgery....

 

My journey began in December 2020, same time the above picture was taken, I started to experience a change of bowel habit and minor bleeding. I thought it was piles.. by new years I was in pain and David, my partner, made me a doctors appointment as tbh I was reluctant to go as I knew I'd need an examination. Il never forget seeing the doctor 1st Feb 2021. She examined me and made a rapid referral to GWH to be reviewed. I was fairly calm as I didn't think it was anything serious.... I'd never had any health issues before...here's my journey:

 

15th Dec 20- bowel pain (treated for piles..)

1st Feb 21- doctors and referral

March 21- colonoscopy and diagnoses colorectal cancer likey T1

April 21- ultra low anterior resection with ileostomy - post op diagnoses T3N2bM0 KRAS mutation 12 and 13

May 21- due to start folfox but massive increase in CEA to over 1500. 11 Liver metastases found across both lobes.

June 21- Nov 21 FOLFOX 12 cycles. Good response, decline in liver mets CEA down to 11.

Dec/Jan 22- scans, bowel pain again, Waiting on MDT to agree Liver surgery and pet scan completed.

 

Jan 22-further spread to pelvic area, regrowth at original site, Liver 14 Mets, lungs 2, Pelvis 2, uterus 1, lymph node involvement.
- CEA 1700

- surgery off the table diagnoses-incurable and inoperable.
-Prognosis- small number of years hopefully.

- start on folfori (2 cycles jan).CEA drop to 871.
Jan 22- I made the difficult decision to take some time off work. To spend time with the children and my family and to focus on treatment. 

Feb 22- picc line migration- (1 cycle feb) picc removed, viens in arms shot, hickman line inserted. Next cycle missed. Met with radiotherapy Dr to discuss radiotherapy in April on pelvic and bowel as a pain management route.

March 22- 4th folfori (should have been fifth) Bowel pain and bloating back, CEA 1732. 5th and 6th cycle delivered.

April 22- break from chemo for radiotherapy. Scans. Scans show disease stable(no change) but CEA 2200+ Researched Avastin. Discussed adding in Avastin as good results seen. Oncologist agrees that it has proven results but it isn't available on NHS and our trust doesn't allow it prescribed at cost so Swindon hospital will bill me £1500 per administration. I will need 6 over the next 3 months. Starting 4th May 2022. 

After the 3 months I will have scans to monitor the impact. If it shows good results I can continue to recieve it long term but that's a bridge we will cross when we get to it! 

 

I'm hoping I will prove to be one of the lucky ones and it will make a difference, allow me a chance at a cure, allow me more time with my family, my children. Thank you for reading. X