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Pancreatic Cancer: UK Patient Seeks Portuguese Lifeline
17 Dec
Summary
- Woman diagnosed with pancreatic cancer after dismissing symptoms as stress.
- UK doctors deem surgery impossible due to tumor complexity.
- Fundraising launched to cover costly specialist treatment in Portugal.
Annie De'Ath, a mother-of-two from Tunbridge Wells, received a devastating pancreatic cancer diagnosis after initially attributing her symptoms to stress. Following scans and endoscopies in March, she began chemotherapy in April. However, surgery, considered the only chance for a cure, was ruled out by UK medics due to the intricate nature of her tumor.
A consultation with Professor Markus Buchler in Lisbon, Portugal, has provided a glimmer of hope. The specialist believes surgery is feasible but requires Annie to undergo immediate chemotherapy to stabilize the cancer. Once tumor markers reach a specific level, she must travel to Portugal for the operation and subsequent care.
To fund this critical treatment, her colleagues at Sackville School, where she has been a teaching assistant for over 15 years, have launched a fundraising campaign with a £25,000 goal. Currently, £17,500 has been raised for the chemotherapy, surgery, and post-operative care, offering Annie a chance at beating the disease.
