£120,000 needs to be raised to allow a mum of 4 to undergo a revolutionary cancer treatment, can you help her?
In 2009, at just 35 years old Sue Bulmer from Sandown found out she had ocular melanoma (OM) in her left eye.
As a result, the former carer had her whole eye removed, leaving her completely blind in her left eye.
Back then, Sue and her family – which includes 4 children – were told that if the cancer were to return it would most likely go to her liver – this happens to around 50% of people diagnosed with (OM).
Some 13 years later in October of 2022, whilst having her yearly liver scan, Sue found out that the melanoma had returned and metastasized to her liver. This is sadly classed as stage 4 incurable cancer.
Despite undergoing 3 courses of immunotherapy at Southampton General Hospital, sadly, as it does with many other patients, the immunotherapy made her very unwell and her liver was unable to cope and started to fail.
Sue has been told that she cannot have any more immunotherapy treatment and there are no other treatment options available on the NHS, whilst Sue is feeling a lot better now that her liver is starting to recover from the immunotherapy, the cancer continues to grow rapidly.
However, there is a revolutionary treatment, Chemosaturation, that has been shown to be effective in treating metastatic ocular melanoma but it is not available on the NHS. The cost of the treatment is a staggering £120,000 and will need to be self-funded.
A crowdfunding page has been set up by Sue’s daughter Emma – with the help of her siblings – in hopes to raise monies towards the mammoth total.
Sue worked all the way through the COVID-19 pandemic as a carer for people with dementia at The Briars in Sandown and had previously worked at schools in and around the Sandown and Lake area.
Emma has said:
“We would be so incredibly grateful if you are able to support us in funding this treatment for my Mum.
“I can’t imagine life without my Mum. This is our biggest hope of keeping her here with us where she belongs.”
Anyone wishing to donate toward the cause can do so here.
Absolutely gutting to be reading this is happening to this genuinely amazing kind lovely lady. One of the nicest ladies I have ever met. I really hope the target gets met and the outcome is a positive one. Much love and strength to her and her family xxx
What makes me angry is the fact she can have life saving treatment but only if she has the money really is the rich against the poor a life comes down to money. Best of luck to her hope she gets the treatment she deserves
What makes me angry that the NHS has money for dietitians to explain something as basic as a calorie deficit to people who won’t listen anyway but there isn’t money for this.