I’m cancer free 4 years after being told it was terminal

Mum’s joy at NHS treatment miracle result

showed there is no evidence of the tumour in my liver.

“This was the cancer I was told was terminal. The cancer I was told could not be treated here in Northern Ireland.

“I know no one can ever say what happens in the future but right now I’m singing from the rooftops.

“Can you imagine if I had not had this treatment? If my friends had not raised enough money for me to get started on the drug which pushed the NHS into treating me with it?

“At best I would be desperately sick and preparing to say goodbye to my beautiful sons.

“Last October the Kadcyla treatment was showing signs of working. Now this cancer has gone, there’s no sign of it. My doctor was shocked and delighted. I will be kept on the drug but in a reduced level and for now I’m having a treatment break to give my body a rest.

“I am feeling so elated I hardly know what to say or who to tell.”

Last June, after exhausting the cancer treatments available here, friends raised thousands of pounds for Melanie to have Kadcyla.

It is a targeted treatment therapy used to treat certain HER2 positive breast cancers that have spread or returned after initial treatment.

The monoclonal antibody targets the surface of the cells, interfering with the HER2 and causing the cells to die.

Writer Leesa Harker, who survived breast cancer, started a campaign when Melanie refused

to fundraise for herself. And just as she was about to start the medication privately, Melanie was advised an exception had been made in her case and the NHS would fund it.

Then it was made available here for patients who need it.

Melanie said: “This result today goes to show there is hope and there is a need for equity of treatment across the board.

“There are many people being treated with Kadcyla and my hope is they have the same results as me.

“We cannot be asked to sit back and accept cancers when there are treatments to beat them.

“Today I get to tell my family I’m cancer free and I cannot begin to explain how that will feel after all this years fighting for my life.”