Elisabetta Fumagalli is a 48 year old mother to a teenager, home educator, and works for a charity as a support worker for children and families. She is involved with her local community and helps to organise a yearly arts festival.

In October 2007, Elisabeta suddenly found that her left breast had swelled up and when it receded I noticed a large lump. The lump persisted and in January 2008 after revisiting her GP, it was confirmed she had cancer and was offered chemotherapy, followed by surgery (lumpectomy), radiotherapy and hormone treatment for the following 5 years. After several tests the hospital decided a mastectomy was necessary and possibly a double mastectomy, since the right breast seems to be affected too. After recovering from the initial shock and doing research she decided there are less invasive ways of dealing with cancer.

She contacted Yes to Life, who put her in touch with Cancer Options, who give consultation to people with cancer about all the treatments available and not just what is available on the NHS. Cancer Options pointed out, going through chemotherapy would leave her worse off in the end, since this would further damage her weak immune system. Elisebetta wants to have treatment at the Paracelsus Clinic in Switzerland, which is a specialist clinic for chronic and acute illnesses, including cancer. Their success rate with breast cancer is 95%, whereas conventional treatment would offer her only 80%. Elisabetta needs your help to raise funds to pay for her treatment.

Click here to read Elisbetta's story and for the opportunity to support her...

Derek Gamston is a 59 year old grandfather, he started his early working life working as an industrial cleaner, then spent 20 years working in the wholesale fruit and vegetable trade. More recently he was about to start a new business with his partner, Jane when he was admitted to hospital with chest pains. He was later diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer. In August 2006 the whole of his left lung was removed followed up with a course of chemo during which time his first grandchild, Erin was born. In September 2007 after a routine CT scan the doctors told him the cancer had returned and he had between 6 and 9 months to live. The devastating news led Derek to look to alternative medicine, as the traditional route could only offer more chemo.Derek has started Mistletoe treatment and new low acid diet with vitamins and supplements to help strengthen his body and immune system. A chemosensitivity test also indicated that the cancer cells were sensitive to Carctol and Mistletoe, and the cancer did not seem to be growing as fast as the doctors had expected. Derek needs help to raise funds to continue to pay for his treatment...

Click here to read Derek's story and for the opportunity to support him...

Susan Dervishi is a 48 year old mother and grandmother. She has worked as a carer and support worker for many year, and since her mid-20's has been involved with work at the Crossroads Women's Centre in London . She was first diagnosed with Breast Cancer in May 2005, after her lumpectomy, Sue chose to seek alternative treatment. With lots of help from her friends she was able to access the correct advice to set up a program of healing. With financial donations from friends at the centre, family and friends in Coventry, she was able to pay for juicer and some treatment. Sue still needs guidance with which treatments to use and when, With the aid of donations through her website with Just Giving, the support of Yes to Life and everyone else who is supporting her, Sue knows she can get through this. Sue continues to need help in raising funds for more treatments...

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Lucy Branston, a 37-year-old mother of two (Hannah, 6, and Isobel, 1) and a solicitor specialising in family law at Switalski's, Bradford. Lucy was diagnosed with an advanced and incurable breast cancer. In May 2007 she discovered a further lump. After surgery to remove this she had a CAT scan which showed that the cancer had spread to several places in her bones (ribs and spine). Her consultant told her that her condition was now terminal and that there was a limited amount they could offer other than drugs to try to control the symptoms. With a young family to support this was devastating. Lucy began researching treatment available in the alternative and private sectors and in September 2007. She began treatment at the Liongate Clinic in Kent. Lucy needs help in raising funds to continue her treatments...

Click here to read Lucy's story and for the opportunity to support her...

Debs Stretton recently turned 42, she lives in Bolton, England. She is a part-time English and IT Tutor, a reader, a walker, an avid film watcher, an animal lover and volunteer at an animal rescue centre, a fund-raiser of human and animal charities, a middle eastern dancer and lover of life. Debs was recently diagnosed with a recurrence of cancer which has spread to my lymphatic system.

Having been originally diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2005 and received all the standard treatment offered on the NHS: surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, the cancer came back so quickly, it seems that this treatment wasn't effective in her case. Debs has created her own website where she talks about her experience in the hope that it may help others also affected by cancer. She also needs help in raising funds to pay for some of her treatment.

Please help her by making a donation through her site.