Help Lisa live well with stage 4 cancer

Hi, my name is Lisa and I am fundraising to help with the costs of some complementary treatments I’d like to use to help me live as well as I possibly can through my cancer journey.

Back in August 2020, at the age of 32, I was diagnosed with stage 1 ovarian cancer. I underwent a full hysterectomy surgery and then, to ensure all cancer cells that may have escaped were dealt with, I elected to undergo 4 rounds of chemotherapy. 

Unfortunately in December 2024, it was discovered my ovarian cancer had returned in both my lung and spine. In addition, I received the devastating news that this cancer is stage 4 and incurable. As anyone can imagine, this diagnosis has been the most difficult thing I’ve ever had to deal with and I’m sure I am just at the beginning of what will be a physical and emotional rollercoaster.

I truly believe that the battle between the ears is just as important as the body and my consultant has advised me that stress can be the biggest factor in the acceleration of the disease. Fortunately for me I have found counselling and some holistic therapies through charities, which have been a massive help in me coming to terms with my new normal and managing my mental health.

So why am I raising money and how will the funds be used?

As a 37 year old woman who has so much love and appreciation for life, I want to give myself the best possible chance to live with this for as long as possible! I have refused to be given a prognosis, something the doctors have agreed would not be beneficial. I'm both young and extremely well physically, so am something of an anomaly and I'm planning on keeping it this way!

As surgery isn’t an option, I will be undergoing chemotherapy, radiotherapy and targeted therapies in the hope this keeps the tumours under control and slows the spread of the cancer. These treatments can be very taxing on the body and as I’ll need to be able to withstand these for as long as possible, I need other complementary treatments to support me in doing so.

I have done lots of research and options I’m extremely interested in exploring are mistletoe therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, acupuncture and high strength vitamin C treatment, to name a few. All of these have been shown to improve the side affects of treatments, improve quality of life and in some studies inhabit tumour progress.

Unfortunately these complementary treatments cannot be accessed through charities, or through the NHS and can be very costly.

If you would like to help me access these treatments I will be eternally grateful to anyone who contributes to my fundraiser.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story xxx

‘He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how’ - Friedrich Nietzsche