Please help Bih Bertha fund Cancer treatment

Dear family, friends and well-wishers,

My name is Diana Tcheboh and I am fundraising for my best friend who is more like a sister to me. Her name is Bih Bertha, a Cameroonian and from the North West Region, like me. My family and I have known Bertha for over 20 years, and she is very much a part of our family.

Bertha has been a hardworking single mum of two children, alongside a career as a teacher and part time small business owner up until about a year and a half ago when she was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer at the general hospital in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Following this diagnosis, she started a course of chemotherapy sessions, (had 8 sessions in total) at the general hospital in Yaoundé. About 8 months into this treatment, she was informed by one of the nurses, (very casually) that the treatment she was receiving was simply "what was available", and not necessarily what would help to treat the disease. Her family thought hard and after some research, decided to raise some money and flew her to India to continue her treatment as well as for a second opinion.

On arriving in India, (*Haryana*), the diagnosis unexpectedly and shockingly shifted from stage 2 to *stage* *4* as well as the disease had spread to her bones. The oncologist suggested a course of treatment to be started off with chemotherapy. She has already undergone 8 sessions in India, (making a total of 13chemos so far) and 3 more planned sessions coming up every 3 weeks (next session due on *29th* *September*). I must say through all of this, Bertha is staying very strong, positive and hopeful.

Just to put things into perspective, Bertha's sisters and uncle have been scrapping all corners, emptying all savings and borrowing from every and any lender to fund this treatment. Her two children are currently living with her sister who is bearing the cost of their upbringing while Bertha fights for her life in India. She is currently on her own in India since over 6 months now and this is how much it entails:

*Rent* (inclusive of bills): 220,000frs (~*$361* / *£289* / *€336* )

*Chemotherapy* : *1.5million* cfa/session ( *$2,500* / *€2,300* / *£1,950* )

*Pre-chemo* *Injections* : *40,000frs* ( *$66* / *€61* / *£53* )

Medication: between *20,000*($33/€31/£27 )and *40,000frs* (depending on prescription)

Feeding: Approximately 120,000frs/month plus supplements ($197/€123/£157)

Tests: Vary according to doctor's request (ranges up to 120,000frs/ £157/€183/$196)

These are a few of the most important aspects of Bertha's journey and I have outlined just the above because these are the most costly and most important. These costs are aside the cost of internet and or phone calls she needs to be in touch, as well as transport, buying masks and any other equipment she may require along the line. Her family have exhausted all their borrowing and financial ability options and are at their wits' end!!

My family and I are pleading collectively for any help whatsoever, especially financial, (but not only limited to), to help fund her treatment and stay overall in India. Bertha has been told by the consultants that staying alive for her will mean having to take control drugs and injections (Denosumab 120mg, Trastuzumab (ujvira)) for the rest of her life, aside from the chemotherapy and or possibly surgery. Our hope is to enable Bertha to complete the next 3 planned chemotherapy sessions, tests/scans and treatments without the added stress of not knowing where the money will come from.

Help in Kind can also be useful, such as free accommodation with a friend or relation in India during the course of her stay/treatment, free counselling (dietitians, nutritionist advice or any other professional contacts, charities/organizations that can help etc.).

To get in touch, kindly click on the "Contact" link which is below the "Organizer's" profile picture. Also get in touch if you would like further information regarding the patient as it is possible to put any persons of interest through to the patient.

For now, I am withholding most of her personal details given that her elderly mum who is also not well has not been told of her predicament as well as her two young children. The picture on the profile is also not the patient's, but the fundraiser's (Diana)

Thank you all so much for understanding and kindness.

Kind Regards,

Ngwe Diana Tcheboh(on behalf of the Tcheboh family and Felicitas Ghamogha)