Therapy in America

Hi I’m Cheryl a 41 year old female from Cumbria. I am mum to 3 beautiful children and have a supportive/ fantastic husband. I have worked for the NHS for the last 18 years, dedicating myself and a lot of my own time in supporting, treating and caring for others.

After over 12 months of doctors appointments, my haematologist requested some repeat testing, I remember the day all too well when I was given my diagnosis and my world as it was crumpled around me, I have never felt so vulnerable or devastated in my life. 

I have been diagnosed with a rare form of stomach cancer, ‘linitis plastica’, at stage 4, and have been told I have a 12 month prognosis. 

I’m not prepared to give into this disease without a fight and trying everything possible to give me more time with my family and friends. 

I have started a ketogenic diet and have been using CBD oil whilst awaiting treatment.

I am due to start chemotherapy locally in an attempt to slow the growth of this rapidly progressing form of cancer.

Immunotherapy is a hot topic in cancer treatment and my aim is to travel to America to try this treatment at the end of my chemotherapy cycle; I was hoping to be a part of a trial at The Christie in Manchester, that offered immunotherapy; due to circumstances they are not able to offer me this in a time frame that they feel able, they have advised that I start chemotherapy as soon as possible. Time is not something they want to allow my cancer to have untreated.

Unfortunately the cost of this treatment in America is out of our means and with the support of family and friends we hope to fundraise to help towards the cost of treatment which will be a little more than 25 thousand pounds.

I feel I still have a lot more life to live than this disease currently dictates. 

I try to live each day without cancer affecting my children and their lives, but cry each night wondering if that was the last time I’ll experience them moments, such as sports day, family get togethers, birthdays.
There has always got to be someone who breaks the mould and I have the hope that it might be me who can say they have survived this awful diagnosis. 

Please get in touch if you can help out in any way, every bit of support myself, my family and friends will be eternally grateful for.

Thanks for taking the time to read this, much love Cheryl xx❤️