- J
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I am fundraising to help my Mum receive treatment.
0% complete
£23,996 raised of £40K
435 donations
Mum’s Cancer Story:
My Mum was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer (NSCLC) at the end of November 2020; just when the second wave of COVID lockdown was announced. There were no respiratory symptoms, just an ongoing lower back problem following a fall earlier in the year. With no recovery from the fall, she was referred by her GP to the spinal team who completed some MRI scans. This showed a small shadow on her right lower lung, and so our cancer journey began.
It was a shock to us all as Mum is arguably the healthiest member of our family; it shows how cancer really can affect anyone, no matter the circumstances or life decisions we may make, cancer does not discriminate. With the diagnosis being stage 4 and the tumour deemed as inoperable, it was not the easiest of starts. Nevertheless, my Mum is a force to be reckoned with. She was initially treated with Tagresso, a targeted therapy administered through a tablet. The trajectory was hopeful, with the treatment being less harsh than chemotherapy and allowing us to continue almost the same before.
During this time my Mum joined an incredible cancer support group called ACT (Approaching Cancer Together), through which we were introduced to the idea that cancer can be starved through diet, including cutting out sugars and lowering your carbohydrate intake. My Mum also took up juicing, in order to increase her intake of nutrients, and ultimately with the hope to improve her immunity and gut health for her body to be in a better position to destroy the cancer cells. My Mum additionally became a member of Maggie’s Lung Cancer Group, with Maggie’s being a charity that supports those living with cancer and their families. Through this, my Mum had the amazing opportunity of being involved in a catwalk, called ‘Maggie’s on the Runaway’, to help raise money for the charity as a whole. The photo below was taken at this event and shows our little family, with Mum in the middle. My Mum also personally fundraised for Maggie’s. Both these groups have resulted in my Mum making many special connections with some wonderful people who all are dealing with cancer in some way. This was a period that although we were very much aware the cancer was there, we didn’t feel consumed by it - we were hopeful to ride the journey together, as a team.
However, as anyone knows who has ever experienced cancer in any way, it is an unpredictable force to reckon with. Sadly, the Tagresso was only effective for 10 months; my Mum’s treatment was then switched to chemotherapy - Carboplatin and Pemetrexed for four cycles. The CT scan showed little change. Then continued with just Pemetrexed for two cycles. But the CT scan now shows progression in lungs and liver. This was devastating to learn, and brought many tears to our family. The treatment has taken its tole on my Mum’s health, and the reality of the situation we are in has really started to kick in. My Mum still looks incredibly well, which of course is wonderful, however it means that it’s hard to truly grasp the amount of pain and constant discomfort that she’s in, mainly due to her bone metastasis. There is not a second that her body now doesn’t have aches, stiffness or pain. When one thing settles, another flares up. Having to watch someone you love so much suffer every day is itself an indescribable pain. My parents are both nurses by trade (both for 35 years), so the bliss that ignorance sometimes gifts you is sadly not applicable to them, and I know my Mum is very aware of the reality we face. But despite bad days, she ultimately remains the positive bright spirit that we love so much.
Even with these many setbacks, including my Mum having to take ill-health retirement from the NHS, I believe we have been very lucky on the journey we are on so far. We are surrounded by an unbelievable amount of support - from our family and friends, our church family, my Mum’s support groups, and also her nursing friends, as well as many more. People really are amazing, and we will never be able to thank everyone enough.
I don’t believe we are a family who typically ask for things, my parents have brought my brother and I up to be self-sufficient, following their upbringing. We also probably fall into the trap of not believing we have the right to ask for things when we are blessed with so much. Yet I know that it’s important to admit when you need help. My Mum’s situation is now that there isn’t much more that can be done through what is available in the NHS, and so our only real option is to look at other treatments.
The Treatment:
Through lots of research and the guided knowledge of others, we have found Mediterránea Médica, a clinic in València, Spain, that we believe will give my mum a fighting chance to keep battling. Their approach is to attack the cancer on all fronts, and treat one’s cancer individually, for example by creating a tailored vaccine based on Mum’s blood results. This treatment is not free, and although cheaper than many of the other places where similar treatments are available, the cost of the recommended protocol for my Mum altogether is approximately €32,000. Because of the advance stage of my Mum’s cancer, she has been recommended by the doctor to have the long treatment plan of 3 months, which needs to start imminently and will need to be in the Spanish clinic. The figure we have chosen to try and raise here only includes this initial cost of the treatment. We and immediate family will help with her living expenses whilst an outpatient at the clinic.
The Future:
We hope my Mum’s story will help others too, as we believe that cancer treatment can improve further. We plan to keep good records throughout, and to share with her local NHS team as well as ACT. If my Mum’s treatment is as successful as we hope it will be, we may need to purchase some specialised equipment to enable her to continue to administer this herself at home. When we have these details we will share them here.
How to help:
If you are able to help, any donation would be massively appreciated, large or small. If you aren’t in a position to donate, we would be so grateful if you could share my Mum’s story to spread awareness, perhaps reaching others who can help financially. Even just taking the time to read and spare my Mum a thought means a lot to us. My brother is currently at college and I am a student studying away at university. We know one of the best ways to help Mum is to keep trying to focus on our studies, and we have set up this account to try and help alleviate certain stresses.
Our promise:
Any money raised beyond what we need for Mum’s treatment will be donated to others to receive similar treatment, or to relevant charities. We will continue to fight. Thank you in advance from us all for your kind thoughts, prayers and generosity.
With love,
Kathryn, Gerol, Amber & Marcus x
My Mum was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer (NSCLC) at the end of November 2020; just when the second wave of COVID lockdown was announced. There were no respiratory symptoms, just an ongoing lower back problem following a fall earlier in the year. With no recovery from the fall, she was referred by her GP to the spinal team who completed some MRI scans. This showed a small shadow on her right lower lung, and so our cancer journey began.
It was a shock to us all as Mum is arguably the healthiest member of our family; it shows how cancer really can affect anyone, no matter the circumstances or life decisions we may make, cancer does not discriminate. With the diagnosis being stage 4 and the tumour deemed as inoperable, it was not the easiest of starts. Nevertheless, my Mum is a force to be reckoned with. She was initially treated with Tagresso, a targeted therapy administered through a tablet. The trajectory was hopeful, with the treatment being less harsh than chemotherapy and allowing us to continue almost the same before.
During this time my Mum joined an incredible cancer support group called ACT (Approaching Cancer Together), through which we were introduced to the idea that cancer can be starved through diet, including cutting out sugars and lowering your carbohydrate intake. My Mum also took up juicing, in order to increase her intake of nutrients, and ultimately with the hope to improve her immunity and gut health for her body to be in a better position to destroy the cancer cells. My Mum additionally became a member of Maggie’s Lung Cancer Group, with Maggie’s being a charity that supports those living with cancer and their families. Through this, my Mum had the amazing opportunity of being involved in a catwalk, called ‘Maggie’s on the Runaway’, to help raise money for the charity as a whole. The photo below was taken at this event and shows our little family, with Mum in the middle. My Mum also personally fundraised for Maggie’s. Both these groups have resulted in my Mum making many special connections with some wonderful people who all are dealing with cancer in some way. This was a period that although we were very much aware the cancer was there, we didn’t feel consumed by it - we were hopeful to ride the journey together, as a team.
However, as anyone knows who has ever experienced cancer in any way, it is an unpredictable force to reckon with. Sadly, the Tagresso was only effective for 10 months; my Mum’s treatment was then switched to chemotherapy - Carboplatin and Pemetrexed for four cycles. The CT scan showed little change. Then continued with just Pemetrexed for two cycles. But the CT scan now shows progression in lungs and liver. This was devastating to learn, and brought many tears to our family. The treatment has taken its tole on my Mum’s health, and the reality of the situation we are in has really started to kick in. My Mum still looks incredibly well, which of course is wonderful, however it means that it’s hard to truly grasp the amount of pain and constant discomfort that she’s in, mainly due to her bone metastasis. There is not a second that her body now doesn’t have aches, stiffness or pain. When one thing settles, another flares up. Having to watch someone you love so much suffer every day is itself an indescribable pain. My parents are both nurses by trade (both for 35 years), so the bliss that ignorance sometimes gifts you is sadly not applicable to them, and I know my Mum is very aware of the reality we face. But despite bad days, she ultimately remains the positive bright spirit that we love so much.
Even with these many setbacks, including my Mum having to take ill-health retirement from the NHS, I believe we have been very lucky on the journey we are on so far. We are surrounded by an unbelievable amount of support - from our family and friends, our church family, my Mum’s support groups, and also her nursing friends, as well as many more. People really are amazing, and we will never be able to thank everyone enough.
I don’t believe we are a family who typically ask for things, my parents have brought my brother and I up to be self-sufficient, following their upbringing. We also probably fall into the trap of not believing we have the right to ask for things when we are blessed with so much. Yet I know that it’s important to admit when you need help. My Mum’s situation is now that there isn’t much more that can be done through what is available in the NHS, and so our only real option is to look at other treatments.
The Treatment:
Through lots of research and the guided knowledge of others, we have found Mediterránea Médica, a clinic in València, Spain, that we believe will give my mum a fighting chance to keep battling. Their approach is to attack the cancer on all fronts, and treat one’s cancer individually, for example by creating a tailored vaccine based on Mum’s blood results. This treatment is not free, and although cheaper than many of the other places where similar treatments are available, the cost of the recommended protocol for my Mum altogether is approximately €32,000. Because of the advance stage of my Mum’s cancer, she has been recommended by the doctor to have the long treatment plan of 3 months, which needs to start imminently and will need to be in the Spanish clinic. The figure we have chosen to try and raise here only includes this initial cost of the treatment. We and immediate family will help with her living expenses whilst an outpatient at the clinic.
The Future:
We hope my Mum’s story will help others too, as we believe that cancer treatment can improve further. We plan to keep good records throughout, and to share with her local NHS team as well as ACT. If my Mum’s treatment is as successful as we hope it will be, we may need to purchase some specialised equipment to enable her to continue to administer this herself at home. When we have these details we will share them here.
How to help:
If you are able to help, any donation would be massively appreciated, large or small. If you aren’t in a position to donate, we would be so grateful if you could share my Mum’s story to spread awareness, perhaps reaching others who can help financially. Even just taking the time to read and spare my Mum a thought means a lot to us. My brother is currently at college and I am a student studying away at university. We know one of the best ways to help Mum is to keep trying to focus on our studies, and we have set up this account to try and help alleviate certain stresses.
Our promise:
Any money raised beyond what we need for Mum’s treatment will be donated to others to receive similar treatment, or to relevant charities. We will continue to fight. Thank you in advance from us all for your kind thoughts, prayers and generosity.
With love,
Kathryn, Gerol, Amber & Marcus x
Co-organizers4
Amber Williams
Organizer