Sarah Pugh glioblastoma, single mum 😔

[Tuscancat]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-58017220

This story made me so sad, but she is so brave and I love her positivity. I lost a friend to this awful cancer so I think this story touches a nerve. Her poor boy. I hope they get a happy ending against the odds.

That's so awful. I hope she manages to raise all the money she needs.

Me too. I know it happens to lots of people but being a single mum is hard enough without something like this too.

My friend died of this terrible disease. But before she did, a German clinic rinsed her of all her cash, and it didn't extend her life at all. It was awful to witness. There is sadly no cure for glioblastoma - unfortunately there are few of these German clinics readily taking money from desperate vulnerable people.

Jesus that's shocking about fleecing them of their money!!

This is just devastating

@Gobbolino7825

My friend died of this terrible disease. But before she did, a German clinic rinsed her of all her cash, and it didn't extend her life at all. It was awful to witness. There is sadly no cure for glioblastoma - unfortunately there are few of these German clinics readily taking money from desperate vulnerable people.

I used to work in a hospice. We had a few patients go off to these German clinics. It never extended any of their lives. I remember one coming off the plane and into the hospice and dying within an hour of flying back. What a way to spend your last few weeks. They give false hope.

My DH died from a grade 4 glioblastoma when he was 56. There is no cure and radiotherapy helped his symptoms for a few months, until it grew again.He lived for 12 months following diagnosis. An evil disease.

@Bluebellbike

My DH died from a grade 4 glioblastoma when he was 56. There is no cure and radiotherapy helped his symptoms for a few months, until it grew again.He lived for 12 months following diagnosis. An evil disease.

I've nursed so many patients over the years with different types of cancer and I have to say I think brain tumors are the worst of them all. A truly evil disease as you say.

Thank you for all your kind words.

There's an amazing book called "Cured" by Dr Jeff Rediger about spontaneous remission (some with different types of medical treatment, some not). It's not a cure for anything specifically, but its a fascinating study (by a proper medic) on what threads seem to link people who defeat the odds with cancer and auto-immune diseases. No concrete conclusions, but some interesting threads. Some people seem to make it though despite the odds, and some just don't and its totally unfair and seems random. I'm so deeply sorry to anyone who's seen people go through this or any other cancer. Its grim. I've seen it close up. However I don't believe there's such a thing as false hope. We must all have hope. There are a few, within the sad outcomes of so many, who do live beyond their diagnosis. My mum was one. She survived long enough to get me and my sister into adulthood. Not sure how, but she did.

Sarah has no other options on the table at the moment. She's chemo'd and radio-therapied up to the hilt, and there's only a certain amount that can do. There are immunotherapy trials going on in the UK (so its not German quackery, its science which is constantly evolving, debated, reviewed etc), but her specific type of tumour doesn't fit any of the trials. She chose this option as she has spoken to people who've gone through it and survived, up to 10 years on from diagnosis. She is so loved and valued in her community that people have been willing to chuck a few £ in, whatever they choose, just in-case there's an inkling of hope of keeping her here for longer than the odds pessimistically declare. None of us are in denial, but hope, humour, and a massive groundswell of love and support, and this treatment might just ride her through...you never know. Every limb and digit crossed...