Proton beam therapy in America
Donation protected
Hello many of you may know me as Kerry Hartlett before I got married and become kerry Blackaby.
I'm 26 years old and back in August, just 10 months after my dad passed away from 2 brain tumours, my world was turned upside down yet again when I got told the devastating news that nobody wants to hear. I have cancer.
It all started back in April when I started getting back and leg pain. I didn't think anything of it and just took some painkillers. Over the next few days the pain was getting worse so I went to the doctors (first time) and they said it was muscle pain and gave me painkillers. Over the next couple of weeks the pain in my legs got worse and I was struggling to walk so I went back to the doctors for a 2nd time. Yet again, they said it was muscle pain and gave me different painkillers. In the end I went to the doctors 4 times in one month and they all said the same. Even went to A&E and they just gave me painkillers.
Over the next 3 months I went back to the doctors 7 times and A&E once. I was told I had a vitamin D defincey! They finally decided something wasn't quite right and sent me for x-rays on my back and ultra sound scan on my legs. The x-ray came back showing wear and tear to the bottom of my spine. Nothing to worry about they said! The ultrasound report said there was something in my left leg but they didn't know what it was (typical George Eliot Hospital!)
Still in pain I went back to the doctors when this doctor finally sent me for an urgent MRI scan. I had the scan at George Eliot Hospital on 19th July. The next day I got a phone call from the doctor asking me to go A&E at university hospital coventry & Warwickshire as the mri scan has shown a growth on the bottom of my spine.
I spent the next 2 days having more tests before being transferred to The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in Birmingham. I spent another 2 days in hospital where I underwent an operation so they could take a biopsy. I now had to wait 7-10 days for the results!
On 4th August I got that dreaded phone call to say I have cancer. 3 days later I was at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham meeting my oncologist for the first time. I was told I had Ewings Sarcoma. A rare form of childhood bone cancer. I was told all my treatment would be done in Birmingham which meant travelling 27 miles every 3 weeks!
Upto now I have spent 37 nights in hospital and had 6 rounds of chemotherapy, where I stay in hospital for 4 nights. I also have a PICC line which is a plastic tube inserted into a vein in my arm and goes down into my chest. This will stay in until all my treatment is finished.
Although my tumour has responded well to treatment, an operation is not possible due to the risks of nerve damage and being paralysed. Not the news I was hoping for.
Whilst all this was happening me and my Fiance at the time were planning our wedding! We didn't let all this stop us, even when I had my first round of chemo before the wedding and my hair fell out 2 days before the wedding! On 29th August we got married.
I have set up this page with the support of family and friends as I now have the chance to undergo proton beam therapy. This is specialist treatment that it is only available abroad. The NHS will provide funding for me and my husband to go to America but they only fund the flights, accommodation and treatment. We have to fund our own living expenses for upto 9 weeks.
I'm 26 years old and back in August, just 10 months after my dad passed away from 2 brain tumours, my world was turned upside down yet again when I got told the devastating news that nobody wants to hear. I have cancer.
It all started back in April when I started getting back and leg pain. I didn't think anything of it and just took some painkillers. Over the next few days the pain was getting worse so I went to the doctors (first time) and they said it was muscle pain and gave me painkillers. Over the next couple of weeks the pain in my legs got worse and I was struggling to walk so I went back to the doctors for a 2nd time. Yet again, they said it was muscle pain and gave me different painkillers. In the end I went to the doctors 4 times in one month and they all said the same. Even went to A&E and they just gave me painkillers.
Over the next 3 months I went back to the doctors 7 times and A&E once. I was told I had a vitamin D defincey! They finally decided something wasn't quite right and sent me for x-rays on my back and ultra sound scan on my legs. The x-ray came back showing wear and tear to the bottom of my spine. Nothing to worry about they said! The ultrasound report said there was something in my left leg but they didn't know what it was (typical George Eliot Hospital!)
Still in pain I went back to the doctors when this doctor finally sent me for an urgent MRI scan. I had the scan at George Eliot Hospital on 19th July. The next day I got a phone call from the doctor asking me to go A&E at university hospital coventry & Warwickshire as the mri scan has shown a growth on the bottom of my spine.
I spent the next 2 days having more tests before being transferred to The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in Birmingham. I spent another 2 days in hospital where I underwent an operation so they could take a biopsy. I now had to wait 7-10 days for the results!
On 4th August I got that dreaded phone call to say I have cancer. 3 days later I was at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham meeting my oncologist for the first time. I was told I had Ewings Sarcoma. A rare form of childhood bone cancer. I was told all my treatment would be done in Birmingham which meant travelling 27 miles every 3 weeks!
Upto now I have spent 37 nights in hospital and had 6 rounds of chemotherapy, where I stay in hospital for 4 nights. I also have a PICC line which is a plastic tube inserted into a vein in my arm and goes down into my chest. This will stay in until all my treatment is finished.
Although my tumour has responded well to treatment, an operation is not possible due to the risks of nerve damage and being paralysed. Not the news I was hoping for.
Whilst all this was happening me and my Fiance at the time were planning our wedding! We didn't let all this stop us, even when I had my first round of chemo before the wedding and my hair fell out 2 days before the wedding! On 29th August we got married.
I have set up this page with the support of family and friends as I now have the chance to undergo proton beam therapy. This is specialist treatment that it is only available abroad. The NHS will provide funding for me and my husband to go to America but they only fund the flights, accommodation and treatment. We have to fund our own living expenses for upto 9 weeks.
Organizer
Kerry Blackaby
Organizer