Cancer patient's desperate plea for cash for German treatment
A CANCER patient given only months to live has issued a desperate plea for funds to help her receive treatment in Germany.
Stephanie Chouette, aged 35, of Plymstock, was first diagnosed with breast cancer which has spread to her liver and vertebrae.
Last week given five months to live by Plymouth doctors, she hopes to raise about £12,000 for a three-month course of chemotherapy not available in the UK.
Prof Dr Thomas Vogl, of University Clinic, Frankfurt, has told Stephanie 'local chemoperfusion' could extend her life.
Dr Vogl recently treated Plymouth woman Debbie Brewer who is in remission from asbestos-related lung cancer following a similar course of treatment. Debbie had previously been told she had only months to live.
Stephanie's partner Ali Beaman said the couple need help in order to pay for the potentially life-saving trip.
She said: "I just want to get her to Germany and to start her on the treatment. I'm not sure what the future holds but she's so poorly we need this now.
"I know times are hard but we would really like people to come forward and even give £1 to help. We would really like a sponsor to come forward to fund the trip."
Debbie and Ali Beaman are organising a fundraising event at the Derriford Hospital leisure centre for January 23, and are urging members of the public to take part.
Ali said the experimental treatment will cost 10,500 Euros for three sessions over three months. The couple will also need to pay for travel expenses and accommodation.
Local chemoperfusion is similar to chemoembolisation, which Debbie Brewer, aged 49 of Eggbuckland, received in Germany last year.
After her tumour shrank 53 per cent between May and December, the mother of three has started campaigning for the treatment to be made available in the UK.
She has this week jointly launched an online petition about the issue at the Government webpage: petitions.number10.gov.uk/Mesothelioma-/
The fundraising event for Stephanie will take place from 7pm on January 23 in the Derriford Hospital leisure centre's function room.
It will include music, entertainment and a raffle. All are welcome.
Stephanie in October won an appeal against the NHS in Plymouth to receive funding for the controversial drug Avastin.
She is no longer taking the drug but is receiving other NHS treatment for her cancer.
Anyone who wants to support Stephanie's appeal can email Ali at alibeaman24@hotmail.com or telephone her on 07590 606013.
Comments
by t jones, Swindon, Wiltshire
Wednesday, January 07 2009, 4:29PM
“please give to help with the cancer treatment .i live with noing im a carryer of the brac 2 cancer gen and u never no when u may need this treament it could happen to your mother sister daughter or anyone in your family so many lives are taken with guns knife and drugs .so when we can help u can feel good to no u could make a diffrence iv not got a lot but i gave what i could after seeing my mum and her 3 sister and then my nan die of cancer and my sister as had it 3 times .so please give the treament in germany is so good she as to have it”