<div>In February 2024 my best friend Michelle (the dark haired lady in the photos), a fit and healthy 50 year old who has never smoked or drunk alcohol, was told she had an incredibly rare, but very aggressive cancer - cholangiocarcinoma, or bile duct cancer. The bile ducts carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder and by the time most people receive a diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma it has already spread beyond the bile ducts, so the chance of recovery is usually very poor.
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<div>Since December 2023 she'd been telling me of discomfort beneath her ribs on the right hand side. We didn't think much of it, but it didn't go away, and over the following weeks she started to lose her appetite, had gone a funny yellow colour and she had been losing weight without trying.
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<div>Prior to this, Michelle was not unfamiliar with poor health, having been diagnosed with crippling arthritis years before which had seriously reduced her mobility.
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<div>She mentioned her symptoms to her rheumatologist as part of her routine check up. He sent Michelle for blood tests which showed her bilirubin levels were abnormally high.
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<div>The wheels were then set in motion for scans and further tests and about two weeks later Michelle called me from The Lister Hospital in floods of tears. She'd just been told they'd found something very serious, and that it was not good news. I was with Michelle when she was given the conclusive diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma a week later. She was so scared, but we were told that thanks to the vigilance of her rheumatologist Michelle's cancer had been detected very early, which never happens with cholangiocarcinoma. But because cholangiocarcinoma is super aggressive they needed to move fast.
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<div>Within a few weeks Michelle had had 60% of her right liver removed, her gallbladder removed and her portal vein resectioned. Her abdomen looked like she has been attacked by a great white shark but we didn't care because the cancer had gone! She was in intensive care for three weeks. They released her home but within 24 hours she was violently ill, having contracted MRSA in hospital and had to be readmitted to the Royal Free for a further two weeks.
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<div>In June whilst waiting for a blood transfusion at Finchley Hospital Michelle started feeling ill. I received a call from a nurse as Michelle was being blue-lighted back to The Royal Free as she had contracted sepsis. She was readmitted again.
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<div>When she was discharged she tried to spend the remainder of 2024 focused on getting better but ended up with a fractured knee after a collision with her pet dog Bear and ended up at The Lister Hospital for a number of weeks.
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<div>And she told me that something didn't feel right again in her liver area. Throughout October and November she had various scans and biopsies. We were told that the biopsies had come back clear, there was no cancer in the lymph nodes and there was no evidence of cancer. I was ecstatic but Michelle was cautious. I don't think she really believed it.
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<div>We moved forward and held a 50th birthday party for her in November. Her outlook on life seemed to be improving a little, as her huge scars were healing. But she still didn't feel right and had another scan in late December.
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<div>In January 2025 Michelle, her daughter and I met with oncologists at The Royal Free again. This time we were told that Michelle's cancer, despite being so small it was barely detectable, was not curable. We all left the hospital in disbelief, shocked and devastated at how quickly things had changed.
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<div>Michelle was determined to fight so readily agreed for a PICC line to be put in so that her chemotherapy, blood transfusions and treatments could be administered through it. Her daughter took her to the Royal Free to have it inserted in mid January.
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<div>Immediately afterwards Michelle
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<div>was readmitted to The Royal Free with a very bad urine infection. She then developed pancreatitis and her tiny abdomen - Michelle is only 4ft 11 and a size 8 - swelled so much she looked like she was carrying twins. She also contracted sepsis again and a bowel infection. Today we learnt she has blood clots on her lungs as a result of the pancreatitis. She is still in hospital, fighting. This has been the pattern of her life for the past 12 months and there has not been a moment's respite.
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<div>Meanwhile Michelle's 16 year old son is at a crucial time in his life, about to take his GCSEs without his mum around to help him through them. Family and godparents have rallied round but his life has changed overnight and he has lost his most important support system - his mum.
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<div>Michelle does not have savings, life insurance or a funeral plan. Things were already financially tough before her cancer diagnosis.
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<div>I want to raise as much money as possible to help Michelle through this and to provide some financial cushioning for whatever lies in store.
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<div>I would also like to raise enough for Michelle to be able to go on some short UK breaks with her family, health permitting, to be able to make memories with whatever time she is given.
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<div>Michelle is one of the kindest, gentlest people you could meet. Generous with her time and her love, she is the kind of human being who will do anything for anyone. She is a loyal friend and when she loves you she loves you with everything she's got. I love her with all my heart and she has shown me what friendship really is.
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<div>Please donate whatever you can. Thank you.
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