A talented Sunderland musician fighting for her life after being diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor is set to embark on a pioneering medical trial in California.
Faye Fantarrow, 20, is battling cancer for the third time after receiving the devastating news in September that she has an aggressive glioma tumour.
The East Herrington artist was diagnosed with leukaemia aged eight and underwent two-and-a-half years of chemotherapy. The cancer returned when she was 13, and she received a bone marrow transplant.
READ MORE: Heartbreak as Sunderland singer diagnosed with 'terrifying' rare brain tumour
And it is believed that the radiotherapy used to treat the leukaemia could be the cause of the rare tumour that she now has.
The talented artist, named as a top tip for 2022 by BBC Introducing in the North East, began to feel unwell after recording tracks for her new EP in The Bahamas this summer with Eurythmics star Dave Stewart, whose record label she is signed to. After undergoing tests, doctors diagnosed Faye with the tumor and told her that her life was ending.
With no treatment available in the UK, the singer is hopeful that a pioneering CAR -T cell trial in America may help to cure her cancer. Last month her family launched a Go Fund Me appeal to raise £450,000 to pay for the trial.
Dave Stewart and Annie Lennox are among the stars who have supported the appeal, which has already raised more than £200,000.
And now Faye has been able to share the incredible news with fans that she has a date to start the trial.
In a moving social media post, Faye said: "I am very happy to say I have been given dates for the initial collection of my cells to start the trial in America.
"I will be leaving for California on January 6. I can't thank you enough for all of the donations that have enabled me to get to this crucial stage."
The CAR-T treatment will remove some of Faye's T cells and genetically modify them so they will kill cancer cells. They will then be put back into her blood to fight the cancer.
"I hope that radiotherapy has done its job well enough so I have enough time to raise the total target before relapse inevitably occurs," Faye said.
"Allowing me to complete the trial and, hopefully, be cured for good.
"Again this wouldn't be possible without every donation, every share, and every conversation about my story. So thank you so much to all of you beautiful souls who haven't given up on me."
To donate to Faye's JustGiving page, you can do so here.
A fundraising gig called 'Faye Fantarrow and Friends with the Great Northern All Star Band' will take place at the Fire Station in Sunderland on Friday, January 27, 2023. For more information and to get tickets, click here.
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