A new mum who was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer just months after giving birth is pinning her hopes for survival on ground-breaking treatment in Turkey. Mairi Claire Routledge, 39, was first diagnosed with the disease in 2010.
However, the cancer returned in 2015 and the stage 4 diagnosis was delivered to her in October 2020. Mairi is undergoing chemotherapy but feels her survival rests on pionering cancer treatment that is currently unavailable on the NHS.
The Chemothermia Clinic in Istanbul carries out the innovative treatment which specialises in Metabolically Supported Chemotherapy (MSCT). As reported by Chronicle Live, the clinic says patients receive "smaller doses of cytotoxic drugs but [the treatment] delivers a higher concentration to the cancerous tissues."
The mum will need six rounds of the treatment, lasting up to four days at a time. She has already spent a week undergoing the first dose.
However, Mairi needs to raise £80,000 to cover the cost of medical bills. In an effort to help, her loved ones have launched a Just Giving Page and raised more than £61,000.
“I’ve found myself at a point where the standard of care treatment available on the NHS is no longer effective," Mairi said. "Chemotherapy is really taking its toll on my body and with a very active two-year-old to think of, I need to stay as fit as I can.
"I’ve researched and worked with many specialists to find an integrative approach to treatment that will target the cancerous cells more effectively. I believe my only real chance is to go to Istanbul for help."
To donate visit: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/gemma-sayers
