Niki’s Alternative Therapy fund raiser

In March 2022 our dear friend Niki was diagnosed with stage 3 breast and Lymphnode cancer and went through 6 rounds of Chemotherapy, she had a Lumpectomy and 15 sessions of Radiotherapy along with 2 phesgo injections every 3 weeks until 10th August so all in all 18 rounds as her last one was due to be August 2023.

Niki got a full body and MRI scan in August to be told there was a secondary tumour on the brain. The first lot of treatment was successful but unfortunately on her next scan it had showed 3 more tumors, she has now developed LMD Leptomeningeal disease.

LMD occurs in 5% of cancer patients. With treatment overall survival is 3-6 months after diagnosis but if left untreated the overall survival is 1 month after diagnosis.

LMD is cancer in your cerebrospinal fluid and leptomeninges the membrane and spinal cord. Overal prognosis is poor and would be 4-8 weeks after Dianosis with no treatment and 2-6 months depending on response.

in January 2023 Niki had 3 tumours removed, stereotactic therapy and had a full body + CT scan every 3 months which showed she had LMD. Due to that she had to have immediate treatment!

unfortunately the treatment was so severe Niki had to have 16 sessions of Radiotherapy on the whole brain and 10 to her spine which burnt through her spine and damaged her oesophagus so eating and drinking became unbearable.

Niki was then admitted to the Cancer centre at Belfast city hospital as she had 14 falls within the space of a couple of days.

The disease has badly affected Niki’s mobility. Whilst at the hospital she had to learn how to walk again.

The NHS has given Niki up to 6 months to live with treatment so we are trying alternative therapies in the hope they will help Niki.

Niki has been prescribed medical cannabis but it comes at a huge cost of 600-700 a month for the oil, supplements and alternative therapies.

Niki is now on at home on a full time care plan, she had carers coming around 4 times a day, help from friends as well as a nurse who comes around twice a week. Palative care twice a week, physio and OT twice a week and Marie Curie are booked to take over night sits.

Niki Has been taking alternative meds for 6 months now and feels good in herself. Not only does it help with her mobility it also helps with her anxiety and moods.

With regular alternative and dietary supplements it helps maintain a healthy balance but when Niki went a period of time without it she deteriorated rapidly.

Niki is now having to sleep downstairs on a hospital bed, she is having a downstairs toilet put in as she is now un able to go up and down the stairs safely.