Family’s plea as teenager has just weeks left to live
A woman is raising money for her sister who has a rare cancer and has been told she has just weeks left to live.
Hannah Foley, 21, from near Bath, is raising money for her sister, Bethan Foley, 19, who has been given a terminal cancer diagnosis.
Bethan was told by her oncologist at the Teenage Cancer Unit at Bristol Royal Infirmary that her extremely rare Grey Zone Lymphoma would give her weeks left to live if no further chemotherapy was administered.
But Bethan, of Paulton, with the support of her mum Sarah and sister Hannah has decided not to undergo further treatment as her cancer is at an advanced stage and previous treatment was “torture”.
Hannah said: “Bethan has been offered another chemotherapy regime, but there is no way of knowing whether it would actually help reduce or cure the cancer.
“Bethan has decided the pain of chemo is too much to bear - and as her heart is working at 40 per cent and she has only one fully functioning lung, there are too many risks involved. She’s using alternative medicine, which is incredibly costly at well over £500 a month, but is effective as pain relief for now.”
Hannah, a student at the University of Southampton, has started a Go Fund Me page to make sure Bethan’s last few weeks are as comfortable as possible. She hopes money raised will help pay for
Bethan’s alternative medicine, ensure the family create lasting memories, and help cover any funeral costs. At the time of going to press, the Go Fund Me page had raised more than £6,000 - the initial target was £5,000.
She also hopes that money raised will stretch to get Sarah, a single mum with a full-time job as CEO of the national charity Timebanking UK, some private counselling or therapy. Hannah said: “Mum’s had some time off to cope but has now gone back to work. Between caring for Bethan, myself, the dog, her job and housework she’s struggled to cope. I was hoping to use some of the money so Mum can access some private counselling or therapy - the waiting list for therapy from charities is about six months.”
Hannah added that she has also struggled to deal with the family’s situiation but she says they are trying to remain positive for Bethan and they want to create lasting memories together.
Hannah said: “Bethan’s the most caring and compassionate person ever, she has the biggest heart.”
Hannah said: “Mum and I are hoping to take her on the Eurostar as she’s too ill to fly, and we’d love to be able to take her to see some of her favourite singers, as well as taking her on other day trips.”
Bethan first reported symptoms in April 2017 but was initially misdiagnosed, meaning her cancer was not caught until at an advanced stage.
To donate, visit https://www. gofundme.com/f/bethans-end-oflife-fund