A few words from Carla;

Hi there - and thank you for taking the time to look at my page. I have often been on this site to try to help others on their journeys but never imagined that I would be the one reaching out for help myself.

Life is strange like that, isn't it? I've been scared of cancer my whole life – not the low-level anxiety many people have in the back of their minds, but an overwhelming, constant fear that has sat like a dark cloud above me and has affected many aspects of my day-to-day wellbeing. 

I had a tumour on my ovary when I was in my twenties, and early-stage breast cancer in my thirties - so perhaps the fear I have always lived with was not totally unfounded.  Given these circumstances, I have been careful - really careful - and have undergone annual smears and regular check-ups and scans. Then in February this year, after four months of tests that all came back as “normal”, I was told I have a very rare biopsy-proven cancer.  I have always been terrified of the statistics doctors give in their prognoses and ironically… this cancer is so rare that they are unsure how it will behave to standard treatments.  What I do know is that the cancer is stage 4 and has metastasised.  

I made a conscious decision that I can heal from this even if my doctors think otherwise. In general, I believe that doctors only know the trajectory of a disease, not how an individual will react; that is a personal journey, and I've seen time and time again that people can heal, even when the odds are stacked against them.  In my case, they don't even know the trajectory, so therefore even though it is late stage, I believe I can heal with a combination of traditional, and integrative medicine including other non-NHS treatments, a rigid anti-cancer diet and supplements specifically prescribed following DNA testing. I undergo gut testing, which is closely linked to immune function, and tumour-profiling tests that are provided as standard in the USA, but not provided by the NHS.  There are promising results with therapies such as high dose IV vitamin C, oxygen therapy, mistletoe injections, dendritic vaccines (which are only available overseas, unless you are lucky enough to jump on a clinical trial in the UK)... the list goes on. 

I was told at the beginning of my journey by my integrative doctors that I would need to crowdfund, but I disagreed and thought I could fund this myself. I had previously been self-employed in the medical profession and had a good job, however, the reality eventually hit me that it is not possible to work full-time whilst undergoing high-dose, debilitating chemo for six months and becoming very weak and unwell - and that's only the beginning of a very long treatment plan. I have sadly lost my business and career and consequently my house and I can no longer support the ongoing, long-term costs of the private treatment that I need.  I wish I didn't have to ask for help, but sometimes your life depends on it. I am truly, humbly and eternally grateful to anybody that gives even the tiniest amount to help me on my journey - your love and care mean as much to me as the donation. 

With love and appreciation, 

Carla

If you would like to follow my journey you can do so on Instagram @carla.cascarini