Culling Cancer

My name is Daisy & I have set this up on behalf of my lovely boyfriend (Ben) who was diagnosed with Terminal Cancer just before he turned 21 years old.

Bens Story:

My boyfriend; Ben Cull is 23 years old and fighting Cancer for the second time in his life. It all started when he was originally diagnosed with a rare form of cancer (4 in 70 million people every year) - Ewings Sarcoma (Bone Cancer). It was in his right knee and at the time he was 17 years old playing football for SouthamptonFC Youth team and represented England several times. He got told that he would never play football again which was a tough pill to swallow considering it was his passion and career. He had a full knee replacement, aswell as long course of Chemotherapy, and a long recovery. Ben got told he had beaten Cancer and went on to be a personal trainer and live again.

Fast forward a few years; just before we were due to go to Paris for his 21st birthday, he had a routine check-up appointment. He was feeling the fittest he had ever felt, working 60+hours a week, doing gym most days and enjoying life. Sadly, they found an abnormality on his lung. With a few weeks of anxious waiting and scans after scans we then got told it was a relapse of his cancer and this time it was back with a vengeance.

The diagnosis - This time around the Cancer is across both Lungs. The doctors told us there is no cure but there are things they can to do to slow down the process but inevitably it is terminal. Less than 5% live longer than 5 years with this type of cancer. Since then, Ben had a long course of chemotherapy along with radiotherapy which stopped the tumours growing for a good few months and gave him a break from treatment.

As we knew they would, the tumours then started to grow again recently so it was time to start another cycle of chemo therapy a few months ago. Ben did 3 cycles of this and then a scan for us to then get told the treatment hadn’t worked & the tumours were still growing at a fast rate. Appointments like this are hard & make it all real. We were told there are 2 more types of Chemo that they can try but we were also made aware of the realness of the situation & the fact that if the tumours aren’t responding to that type of chemotherapy, it is likely to be the same for them all. The consultant also made us aware if they don’t slow down the process soon, then Ben could start gaining symptoms from the cancer itself.

This week Ben has started another cycle of chemotherapy because we will never loose hope, however the options are getting smaller. There are a few trials across different countries which Ben may be suitable for, all of these cost a lot of money but at the end of the day, of course we will do absolutely anything to get Ben treatment that is needed or worth trying.

We have certainly realised that life is insanely short & you don’t know what is round the corner. But one thing it has made us do is live life & do things spontaneously. In between Ben being on treatment we have done loads of last minute holidays, and adventures. Which we would love to continue to do, but obviously money isn’t endless. Ben has done insane amounts of fundraising for ‘Teenage Cancer Trust’ and raised over £20,000 but now I think it’s time he gets the help to do everything he wants to do and make memories with those around him. 

Anybody who knows Ben, will know he is the most positive person you could ever meet. He takes it all in his stride, counts himself ‘lucky’ as people are in worse situations, and makes all the nurses and consultants laugh with his positivity. He brightens up a room every-time he walks in & worries more about how much his situation is affecting his close ones. Ben never expects any help or any sympathy but he truly deserves it more than anyone to enjoy every minute of life & do all the things we’ve spoke about doing together.

So - I am asking for any donations which will go towards dream holidays, fun adventures and Bens ‘bucket list ideas’. We are also asking, because if and when a specific treatment comes up in America, Germany or anywhere then we have the money there ready to go and fight. I will also attach his bucket list ideas so you can see the adventures we want to do.

He’s a true FIGHTER and we want to continue to make memories which will last a life time❤️ Any help small or big would be massively appreciated ❤️

These are just a few of the ideas…