Lea's life fund - for access to ongoing & vital treatments

Nikki Cross is organizing this fundraiser.

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SAVING MY FRIEND - LEA HUGHES

Hi, my name is Nikki, and I’m here to share the story of my amazing friend Lea & help raise funds to help save her life and improve the quality of her life.

Lea isn't thrilled to be in a position to reach out for support, nor would many of us be - but her ongoing quality of life & survival comes with hefty costs and we are therefore asking for your help in sharing, fundraising or directly donating for Lea's cause.

You can join the Facebook group here for updates

LEA'S BACK STORY

In 2018, Lea was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer after more than two years of being misdiagnosed. Doctors told her she was too young, with no family history. By the time they gave a diagnosis, the cancer had already spread to her bones and liver.

Lea has been through four different cancer treatments over the last six years, and has been on hormone therapy the entire time. Some treatments were manageable, others brought horrible side effects, and one even saw her in hospital, fighting for her life.

Every treatment has left permanent side effects and changed Lea’s quality of life, but she has always managed her healing holistically, as best she can. I know that her integrative approach is why she is still here, and still doing ‘well.’

For the first few years, Lea’s cancer stayed stable, or even shrank.

THEN IN 2023...

In 2023, her primary tumour started growing again, and she bravely chose to have a mastectomy. Later that year, she ended up in hospital again, needing radiotherapy on her pelvis due to progression in her bones and severe hypercalcaemia. She then began a targeted therapy, which came with a new wave of awful side effects. Eventually, she was hospitalised with chronic anaemia, needing blood transfusions and dealing with a week full of complications and infections.

Lea started chemo as an inpatient and continued for 10 gruelling months.

By May 2024, she was stable. Her scans were good, so her doctors took her off treatment, and she was monitored with regular scans... until August 2024.

AUGUST 2024...

In August, a routine scan showed new signs of cancer progression in Lea’s liver. Her doctors recommended a clinical trial, but before she could be accepted, she needed further tests.

That’s when things took a turn for the worse.

A full-body CT scan picked up cancer in her brain.

Because of where the tumour is located, the most effective treatments—targeted radiotherapies—aren’t an option.

Lea’s only option now is whole-brain radiotherapy, which carries harsh side effects and lifelong complications.

Lea needs funds to seek therapies & treatments quickly, as much as she needs funds to help her rehabilitate from the very same life saving treatments that keep her alive.

THERE IS NO TIME TO LOSE

We need to support Lea, and the time to act is now.

For the last six years, Lea has done everything she can to learn, adapt, and manage her illness.

She has pieced together her own healing, accessing what she could, when she could, always making the best of what was available. But now, after six years, it’s clear she needs more help, and more access to the treatments that can really make a difference.

THIS IS WHERE WE ALL COME IN

There are tests, therapies, and treatments that could make a huge difference in Lea’s life. New options have emerged, and different approaches that Lea is eager to try. But without the necessary funds, she can’t access them. Her options are shrinking, and the NHS can no longer offer the hope it once did.

HOW YOUR DONATIONS WILL BE USED

Lea needs access to alternative therapies, advanced testing, and international clinics that have been on her radar for years. Here’s how your support can help:

Oncogenomic Testing (£3,700 - £4,200) – crucial for determining the best possible treatment
Private High-Res Brain MRI (£500 - £1,500) – for a more detailed understanding of her brain tumour
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) (£300 to start) – for reducing inflammation and improving healing
Consultations and Testing (£300+) – with specialists who can guide her next steps
Dr. Vogel Radiotherapy (£3,400) – targeting her brain or liver
Hydrogen Oxygen Inhalation Machine: Approx. £2,000 - £4,000. This machine helps with brain metastases and aids in recovery from radiotherapy by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS): This device uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells and is shown to be effective for brain metastases and can be bought for home use for around £700.
Supplements and Integrative Therapies (£50 - £150 monthly)
IV Therapies such as..
IV Mistletoe Therapy: £100 - £150 per session (Typically requires multiple sessions, often weekly or bi-weekly, depending on the protocol)
IV Vitamin C Therapy: £200 - £400 per session (This also usually requires multiple sessions, sometimes 2-3 times per week, depending on the treatment plan)
There are also more intensive treatments like Hope for Cancer (Mexico), which could cost up to £50,000,
Advanced chemotherapy options like Enhurtu, which can run over £10,000 per cycle.

That last option (Enhurtu) is worth a special mention...

Among the treatment options that could greatly benefit Lea, Enhurtu (Trastuzumab Deruxtecan) has shown promising results, particularly for patients with brain metastases. Lea’s doctor has recommended Enhurtu as a potentially effective treatment to support her brain, either before or after radiotherapy.

The data surrounding this drug shows that it can be effective in targeting cancer that has spread to the brain, offering hope for improving Lea's prognosis.

Unfortunately, accessing Enhurtu is a significant challenge due to its cost, which can reach upwards of £10,000 per cycle. This makes it an out-of-reach option without financial support.

By donating, you will directly help Lea access this potentially life-changing treatment, giving her a fighting chance to protect her brain and improve her quality of life.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Your donation, no matter how small, will make a difference. You’ll be giving Lea the chance to explore the treatments that could extend her life and improve her quality of living.

I truly believe that together, we can make sure she has the best chance to keep going, continue to maintain a quality of life we would all hope for and continue being the incredible person we all love so much.

Thank you for reading Lea’s story, and for any help you can offer - whether that is raising awareness & sharing, fundraising or directly donating for Lea's cause.

With so much love & gratitude,

Nikki x