Jetset Sales Manager Alison Armstrong has launched a fundraiser to help pay for groundbreaking treatment for her husband who is suffering from a rare and unique form of cancer.
Suffolk-based Alison has given up full-time work as Jetset’s Sales Manager for the east, to become the sole carer for husband Rob, whose cancer is so rare it doesn’t even have a name.
Rob, 58, became ill last year after injuring his back and started to experience pins and needles on the right side of his body. Doctors found the back pain was caused by a large tumour in his brain, pressing on his nerves and receptors.
He quickly deteriorated, losing the vision in his right eye, sensation and motor function and can no longer work as a marine engineer.
He received Gamma Knife radiation therapy, a procedure that is normally only given once, but in Rob’s case it was administered five times. It resulted in shrinking the tumour but Rob’s symptoms did not alleviate.
The cancer in his brain is not the primary tumour, which doctors have been unable to locate and are unsure whether it has died or is hiding.
In May this year, the family was told there was no other treatment available, but a second opinion revealed a new drug called Trastuzumab Deruxtecan could help. The intravenous drug will cost about £10,000 per session and he could need four, which will be administered every three weeks.
Last week, the family were told Rob was suitable for the treatment. Rob and Alison’s son, Stephen, who lives in Dubai, is funding the first session and daughter Loti has set up a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for further treatment and associated medical expenses.
Loti said the new treatment would give her dad ‘one last chance at fighting cancer’.
She said: “Before April 2023 my dad has been a healthy, fit and active member of his community, with no history of cancer in our family. Best known for his loud laugh, eclectic shirt collection and being a ‘Mr Fix-it’ for anyone who needed him.”
The fundraiser, set up at the end of last week, reached £10,000 in 48 hours and now stands at over £15,000, with one anonymous donator pledging £1,000.
Alison told Travel Gossip: “Rob is only 58. We celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary last year. Before this, he had never been off work. He’d worked his socks off and had started to think about going part time. He’s a very proud man but he is finding it more difficult. He has no vision in his right eye, his right arm is almost redundant, and his right leg doesn’t work properly.
“I’m his sole carer and I’m finding it increasingly difficult. Jetset has been amazingly supportive, but I only work a few hours a week at the moment and money is tight. We’ve not asked for help until now. We are very grateful for all the support.
“This is the only drug that is available and it is a significant cost. The doctors still don’t know what they are dealing with, but it should be of some benefit and should shrink the tumour and the swelling in the surrounding area.
“They said they do believe this should help him. The way they described it they said the drug has a rucksack on its back with chemotherapy, seeks out this particular mutation and attacks it.”
Alison has been with Jetset for 17 years and has also been a sales rep at several other travel companies, including Mundi Color, Superbreak and Best Western.
Click here to see the GoFundMe page.
Pictured: Rob and Alison.
The post Jetset Sales Manager launches appeal to give husband ‘one last chance’ to fight rare cancer appeared first on Travel Gossip.
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Suffolk-based Alison has given up full-time work as Jetset’s Sales Manager for the east, to become the sole carer for husband Rob, whose cancer is so rare it doesn’t even have a name.
Rob, 58, became ill last year after injuring his back and started to experience pins and needles on the right side of his body. Doctors found the back pain was caused by a large tumour in his brain, pressing on his nerves and receptors.
He quickly deteriorated, losing the vision in his right eye, sensation and motor function and can no longer work as a marine engineer.
He received Gamma Knife radiation therapy, a procedure that is normally only given once, but in Rob’s case it was administered five times. It resulted in shrinking the tumour but Rob’s symptoms did not alleviate.
The cancer in his brain is not the primary tumour, which doctors have been unable to locate and are unsure whether it has died or is hiding.
In May this year, the family was told there was no other treatment available, but a second opinion revealed a new drug called Trastuzumab Deruxtecan could help. The intravenous drug will cost about £10,000 per session and he could need four, which will be administered every three weeks.
Last week, the family were told Rob was suitable for the treatment. Rob and Alison’s son, Stephen, who lives in Dubai, is funding the first session and daughter Loti has set up a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for further treatment and associated medical expenses.
Loti said the new treatment would give her dad ‘one last chance at fighting cancer’.
She said: “Before April 2023 my dad has been a healthy, fit and active member of his community, with no history of cancer in our family. Best known for his loud laugh, eclectic shirt collection and being a ‘Mr Fix-it’ for anyone who needed him.”
The fundraiser, set up at the end of last week, reached £10,000 in 48 hours and now stands at over £15,000, with one anonymous donator pledging £1,000.
Alison told Travel Gossip: “Rob is only 58. We celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary last year. Before this, he had never been off work. He’d worked his socks off and had started to think about going part time. He’s a very proud man but he is finding it more difficult. He has no vision in his right eye, his right arm is almost redundant, and his right leg doesn’t work properly.
“I’m his sole carer and I’m finding it increasingly difficult. Jetset has been amazingly supportive, but I only work a few hours a week at the moment and money is tight. We’ve not asked for help until now. We are very grateful for all the support.
“This is the only drug that is available and it is a significant cost. The doctors still don’t know what they are dealing with, but it should be of some benefit and should shrink the tumour and the swelling in the surrounding area.
“They said they do believe this should help him. The way they described it they said the drug has a rucksack on its back with chemotherapy, seeks out this particular mutation and attacks it.”
Alison has been with Jetset for 17 years and has also been a sales rep at several other travel companies, including Mundi Color, Superbreak and Best Western.
Click here to see the GoFundMe page.
Pictured: Rob and Alison.
The post Jetset Sales Manager launches appeal to give husband ‘one last chance’ to fight rare cancer appeared first on Travel Gossip.
Continue reading...
