A Nottingham nurse with cancer has spoken of her hope that a last option treatment will help her create more 'precious memories' with her daughter. Samantha Hourd, 39, from Clifton, was diagnosed with metastatic bowel cancer in June 2021 after a history of bloating, bleeding and a change in bowel habits.
The mum-of-one had undergone testing off the back of a GP referral for suspected colitis, but despite being told the procedure was routine and unlikely to be anything sinister, she was given the life-changing news she had stage 4 cancer. In the past two years, Samantha has undergone a number of surgeries and chemotherapy, but unfortunately, these measures have failed to remove the cancer, with the disease growing every time.
The public health nurse, who had worked as a neonatal nurse at QMC until 2020, is now fundraising to pay for life-extending treatment not available on the NHS or through her insurance. Samantha has said Bevacizumab, a targeted therapy drug that would cost almost £25,000 for a six-month cycle, is the last option to give her more time with her friends and family.
