Prolong the life of bowel cancer fighting single mother of 2

My name is Blanche and I am the youngest of 3 girls. Sadly, my eldest sister, Eleanor Hughes a single mother of two children age 10 and 12, is currently fighting stage 4 bowel cancer. We are at a pivotal moment where we need to appeal to you for help to raise funds to be able to access the chemotherapy AVASTIN which is not available on the NHS. Without this treatment Eleanor’s odds of living for longer than a year are drastically reduced.

Eleanor is now in desperate need of financial assistance to fund this crucial chemotherapy treatment Avastin. Regrettably, as this treatment is not available through the National Health Service (NHS), it leaves her with no choice but to seek alternative means to access it. The drug Avastin has been shown to work successfully in Europe and the USA. Unfortunately it has not been licensed or approved by NICE and is only available to those who can afford it.

The estimated cost for Avastin is around £2000 every two weeks. We want to extend Eleanor’s life as much as we can and are hoping to raise £65,000-£75,000 to cover the necessary medical needs and any new chemotherapy options yet to be approved. If the unfortunate circumstances happen and Eleanor were to pass, any remaining money would be transferred to her two children to secure a future for them both as well as a donation to St Nicholas Hospice in Bury St Edmunds, Bowel Cancer UK and Woman’s Aid. Charities close to Eleanor’s heart.

In November 2022, Eleanor was dealt a devastating blow as she was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer, that quickly changed to stage 4 terminal cancer. Unfortunately this wasn't her first experience of battling cancer. In 2016, she fought and overcame breast cancer, which was HER2 positive. Her current bowel cancer is unrelated to her previous breast cancer battle. The last decade has been an emotional and physical challenge for her and her children but throughout she has remained resilient and positive.

The type of bowel cancer Eleanor is currently battling is an extremely rare BRAF mutation (only which 10% of bowel cancer patients have and is not genetic). BRAF mutations among bowel cancer patients are associated with a considerably poor prognosis and short survival rate, which makes it even more challenging to treat. The BRAF mutation is known for having a poor response to chemotherapy. What makes this situation even more heartbreaking is that the cancer could have been caught earlier and was initially missed during a colonoscopy (in 2021).

When Eleanor first started experiencing her only symptom (fatigue); she was not considered meeting the ‘at risk’ of bowel cancer profile. The initial prognosis of anaemia was a surprise but a subsequent FIT test (stool sample test) showed extremely elevated blood results. She was asked to undergo a gastroscopy and colonoscopy but the tumour was missed and she was placed on iron tablets. Doctors incorrectly concluded heavy periods were the cause, which was unlikely as Eleanor had been placed on a medical menopause for her breast cancer journey. Once her blood test results returned back to their normal range, Eleanor was given permission to stop taking the iron tablets but the iron deficiency anaemia promptly returned. Her GP insisted that she should have another colonoscopy but this time a more comprehensive CT colonography.

It was a few days later, that Eleanor was told that she’d have to battle cancer again. She had the main tumour removed from her bowel along with a large section of the intestine and suspected lymph nodes. She was advised that she would start a course of chemotherapy once healed. Unfortunately by the time she commenced chemotherapy, she received the catastrophic news that the ‘aggressive’ cancer had spread to her liver. The diagnosis being ‘inoperable’ due the vast number of metastatic tumours and their location.

Having now been through all the regular chemotherapy and targeted therapy routes available on the National Health Service (NHS) unsuccessfully (Capox, BEACON, Folfiri, Regorafenib) her last remaining option is to have Longsurf ideally with the added element of Avastin (which is known to work more successfully alongside another chemotherapy). Response results show that Longsurf with Avastin can almost double the median survival rate.

A few words from Eleanor;

“Both of my children have witnessed the shadow of cancer looming over me for the majority of their lives, and it breaks my heart to see them endure and witness such worries at such a young age.

As a single parent, I have always strived to provide the best for my children, but this unexpected diagnosis has left me financially drained and emotionally overwhelmed. I am determined to fight for my life and be there for my children and any contributions people are kind enough to provide, however small, will provide me with the means to access life-saving treatment and give me and my children some hope. We come from a large supportive family who are an integral part of our daily lives. I am also an Auntie to two small young boys who I don’t want to miss growing up.

Outside of family life I am an employed educator, enriching and encouraging students to learn, engage and explore their creativity to their full potential as well as being a supporter of the local Woman’s Aid.

I understand that times are tough for everyone, and there are countless causes deserving of support. Your support, whether through a donation or by sharing our story, will mean the world to us and give me the strength to keep fighting.

Thank you so much.

Eleanor x”