Sharon's Cancer Fund

My name is Tricia Strong and my best childhood friend Sharon Theaker was just diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. She had survived early breast cancer 7 years ago and had a mastectomy. Unfortunately, the cancer has returned agressively and is now in her lymph nodes and lungs. Her oncologist does not recommend chemo or surgery as the cancer is too extensive to be able to remove safely and unlikely to respond to chemo. So her only treatment option is hormone therapy (Tamoxifen). She lives in England, and is dealing with the limitations of the National Health Service. The oncologist also recommended she look into alternative therapies but of course, this is not covered by the NHS. To make matters worse Sharon can no longer work and her husband struggles financially to make ends meet for their family of 5. (3 kids). Previously they had two incomes, as Sharon worked as a pharmacist at Boots Chemist, but now she will only get government statutory sick pay of around £80 per week. (about $100 per month).

She would like to be able to travel to Germany, where they are doing a lot of promising work with advanced cancers including immunotherapy. She has also just started mistletoe infusions, which is being widely studied in clinical trials in Europe and here at John Hopkins Hospital. But again, because this is considered experimental, none of these therapies are covered by the NHS. Any money you would be willing to donate would be used to help cover the expense's of Sharon's treatments as well as paying the bills at home to keep things afloat. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this! Sharon has been my best friend for 30 years and we both went through breast cancer at different times. She was there for me at my time of need and I want to do whatever I can to help her live a full, long life. Whatever you can give, no matter how small would be greatly appreciated.