Me, Myself & Melanoma

The Big ‘C’.   Yes! Cancer

When you’re told you have something that threatens your whole life, it starts to sink in. 

Will I survive? I HAVE TO SURVIVE! 

How will my girls cope without their mummy? 

What if I can’t pay for treatment?

And that’s where I am right now. Asking for help is never easy and anyone who knows me will know this is so out of my Comfort zone, I feel extremely uneasy asking for help but it is a necessity to keep me alive for my beautiful girls and my amazing husband.  I don’t want to die!

Recent changes to my work medical healthcare means I can no longer get the treatment I need to prolong my life which has helped me over the past 2 half years.   Unfortunately the treatment I need isn’t available on the NHS. 

My name is Lisa Shurety and I am 39 years old and this is my fight against Melanoma Cancer.



My Story

New babies bring sleepless nights and a whole new level of tiredness, so when I started to get headaches and unusual sensations in my arm and hand, I put it all down to the stresses of being a new mum.  Waking up in the night for feeds became the new norm, so on the night of the 28th February 2018, woken up by another headache I just got up as usual to take painkillers. That’s the last thing I remember …… 
When I next opened my eyes I had endured major brain surgery to remove a tumour from my brain.   The joy of being parents again ended.   Diagnosed with Melanoma, linked to a cancerous mole that had been removed from my back, 7 years prior.

I had no idea and was not warned that Melanoma from a mole could spread and cause the devastation that it has. Why was I not told?  It was too late now, the damage was done!



The following 2.5 years has just gone from bad to worse, with a total of 16 brain tumours and tumours in my pelvis and lungs.   I have endured countless operations......three brain surgeries, Gamma Knife Surgery, Radiotherapy,  Cyberknife,  Immunotherapy and Physiotherapy.   My left arm, hand and leg are severely damaged as a consequence of the brain tumours and nerve damage during surgery to the tumour on my Pelvis. Daily life is a struggle and I need 24/7 care and support.   My home has had to be modified to allow me to get about easily and most days I spend in bed either dealing with ill health or coping with treatment, however my battle goes on and my wonderful husband and beautiful daughters are my motivation and dedication to fight this horrific disease.


The treatment now needed to shrink 3 tumours in my brain and 5 new tumours in my lungs comes with a hefty price tag, Without this treatment, which is not available via the NHS, my chances of beating this horrific disease aren’t likely. 

Immensely grateful for the amazing medical help I have received so far, without which I would not be alive today, but I am just not ready to leave my daughters Megan (10) & Emily (2), my doting husband Paul. 
Every birthday and Christmas since I have been diagnosed in the back of my mind I wonder if this is the last one they will have with me. My heart bleeds when I look at my beautiful family I love them so much I just can’t bare to think I won’t be with them for much longer. 



They have been punished enough over the past 2.5 years with me not being able and not being around much. They don’t deserve anymore pain. 
I want to be there for Emily’s first day of school, I want to be there when Megan starts secondary school next year. I want to be a normal Mummy & wife. 


I am so Grateful for the support we have received from our wonderful family and friends we wouldn’t have coped without them. 
Thank you for taking the time to read my story, please  share if possible Any donations I will be immensely grateful this will help me fight the fight for my life...

Thank you again 

Lisa