Help Prolong Leslie's Life

Hi, my name is Leslie. I am 41 years old and I have been battling a rare type of cancer (soft tissue sarcoma) for almost half my life. First diagnosed in 2002, I had surgery and radiotherapy, and my condition remained stable. Fast-forward to 2017, when I became very ill, and it was discovered I had a tumour in my brain, and also my left lung. I had brain surgery followed by open chest surgery, four months later. The surgeries were a success, and again things were stable, until summer 2020, when more tumours were found in my lung. So again I had more surgery, where my full lower lobe, of my left lung, was removed.

Recovery was harder that time round. My seizures and ‘off days’ were more frequent. There was ‘some activity’ showing in my brain scans, albeit not cancerous, my oncologist wanted to get to the bottom of it, and so I was referred to a neurologist. A series of tests and scans later, it was determined that I had suffered a stroke. Curious as to what might have been the cause, the neurologist felt the next move would be to look at my heart. It was then that two, fairly hefty, tumours were found in my heart, slap-dab in the middle of the two main chambers.

This was bad, beyond the capabilities of Belfast, and so I assessed by top hospitals across the water. However, they too deemed surgery too dangerous. My only other option was radiotherapy… I had 10 days, back to back, of intense radium, which finished on 25th May.

Today, I had the dreaded phonecall… My Oncologist reported that the radiotherapy has not been successful and the tumours in both my lungs, and my heart, have continued to grow and there is nothing more they can do!! So that’s supposed to be it, I am supposed to just accept my diagnosis, ‘get on with my life’, and just wait! Well I am sorry, but that’s not an option…

Anyone who knows me personally will know that it has taken a lot for me to set up this page, to ask for help, and to lay everything out so publicly. But, they will also know that, I am a proud man, who loves life, loves his family, and I am ready to fight this and give everything I’ve got. I have a wife who I love dearly - we will be married 10 years in September, I want to be here for the next 10. I have two daughters that I want to see grow up, help guide through difficult times, make memories with and, hopefully one day, walk down the aisle.

That is why I have set up my gofundme page. I have been researching alternative therapies to try and prolong my life, and have found a clinic in Mexico, called Hope4cancer, that specialist in alternative, non-toxic, treatments. Their patient testimonials and statistics are amazing and I have real faith in what they do. I have to give it a shot, I have to try and make it out there! However, it costs a hell of a lot of money and, I cannot do this without help.

I know it’s difficult times for everyone at the minute, but honestly, if there is anything you can donate, even one pound, it will make a difference. Every donation, no matter how small, will be so greatly appreciated.

Thank you