Help Carolyn Fight Cancer
Donation protected
My friend and colleague Carolyn Davies was diagnosed in May '14 with a rare form of breast cancer. Since receiving her diagnosis, she has endured chemotherapy, a mastectomy and most recently radiotherapy.
After this gruelling treatment, Carolyn was then prescribed Herceptin to try and prevent the cancer from spreading.
In May '15, unfortunately, Carolyn found more lumps and a biopsy taken showed cancer cells in tissue and skin which are HER2 positive (Rallred type 4), which is classed as a secondary cancer. She then stopped Herceptin at her oncologist's request, as it was felt this wasn't working for her.
Carolyn's oncologist at Velindre felt it best to apply for funding of Trastuzumab Emtansine TDN1, which is believed to be the best option for Carolyn. HOWEVER, this is a treatment currently used in England, and so this is where we hear about the Postcode Lottery! Whilst waiting to hear if this funding would be agreed, Carolyn received no treatment at all - meaning her cancer was slowly spreading and growing.
After hoping and praying for good news, this was not to be - Carolyn's funding was denied and the reason given was that she had not tried alternate treatment.
The next course of action is that Carolyn is now receiving Capectiabine and Lapatinib - however, these are not the best treatments for her, and if she lived in ENGLAND, she would be getting the treatment that she has been denied funding for.
If her current treatment fails, the funding for the TDN1 drug will have to be applied for again, and of course, it could be possible that she will again be denied, plus the time passing in doing this could be life threatening for her.
Cancer sufferers in England are already receiving this better form of treatment - why should sufferers like Carolyn, living here in Torfaen, Wales, be any different?
I am setting up this campaign to raise money for Carolyn - I have set a target of £5000 initially, but I know that the full figure for treatment could be more than £50,000. If we raise enough funds, Carolyn could pay upfront every month before treatment is given. This treatment is to prolong Carolyn's life, it is not a cancer cure unfortunately. As a friend and colleague of Carolyn's, I want to see her get this treatment - she has two children aged just 10 and 8, and they deserve many more happy years with their fantastic mum.
Please donate whatever you can, thankyou so much.
After this gruelling treatment, Carolyn was then prescribed Herceptin to try and prevent the cancer from spreading.
In May '15, unfortunately, Carolyn found more lumps and a biopsy taken showed cancer cells in tissue and skin which are HER2 positive (Rallred type 4), which is classed as a secondary cancer. She then stopped Herceptin at her oncologist's request, as it was felt this wasn't working for her.
Carolyn's oncologist at Velindre felt it best to apply for funding of Trastuzumab Emtansine TDN1, which is believed to be the best option for Carolyn. HOWEVER, this is a treatment currently used in England, and so this is where we hear about the Postcode Lottery! Whilst waiting to hear if this funding would be agreed, Carolyn received no treatment at all - meaning her cancer was slowly spreading and growing.
After hoping and praying for good news, this was not to be - Carolyn's funding was denied and the reason given was that she had not tried alternate treatment.
The next course of action is that Carolyn is now receiving Capectiabine and Lapatinib - however, these are not the best treatments for her, and if she lived in ENGLAND, she would be getting the treatment that she has been denied funding for.
If her current treatment fails, the funding for the TDN1 drug will have to be applied for again, and of course, it could be possible that she will again be denied, plus the time passing in doing this could be life threatening for her.
Cancer sufferers in England are already receiving this better form of treatment - why should sufferers like Carolyn, living here in Torfaen, Wales, be any different?
I am setting up this campaign to raise money for Carolyn - I have set a target of £5000 initially, but I know that the full figure for treatment could be more than £50,000. If we raise enough funds, Carolyn could pay upfront every month before treatment is given. This treatment is to prolong Carolyn's life, it is not a cancer cure unfortunately. As a friend and colleague of Carolyn's, I want to see her get this treatment - she has two children aged just 10 and 8, and they deserve many more happy years with their fantastic mum.
Please donate whatever you can, thankyou so much.
Organizer
Marsha Whant
Organizer
