The following story was written by Emma Shaw at the start of her journey, sadly she died on the 21st August 2019 after a two year battle with Triple Negative Breast Cancer. Emma never got to America for treatment as she found other treatments available in Germany and London.

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Please just take two minutes to read my story.....

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My name is Emma Shaw, I am 40 years old and I live in Rothley in Leicestershire.

In March 2017 I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer, which only affects 15% of all breast cancer cases but if it spreads, is the most aggressive and difficult to treat as there are currently no licensed drugs in the UK so patients depend solely on chemotherapy and trials; meaning a very poor prognosis.

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After my initial diagnoses I started my treatment which consisted of a lumpectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy and found strength and determination from my beautiful son Theo and my amazing family and friends. In November I was finally given the "all clear" and was told to go and enjoy my life...Which I did......

In February 2018 after it just being "me and Theo" for a very long time, I finally met my now partner Darren who slotted perfectly into our lives and never has once moaned about commuting to and from Wales to see us nor having to spend most of our time together at LCFC training ground where my son has recently been pre-signed for their under 9's academy!!

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Life was now perfect and I couldn't have been happier......this was until we came back from our first holiday abroad together in August and I was admitted to hospital for three weeks with pneumonia, where later scans then confirmed that my triple negative breast cancer had spread to my liver.....my world shattered and I have been in a terrible place ever since; shutting myself off from my amazing support of family and friends and dwelling on my poor prognosis which nobody can ever accept.

I have spent weeks searching the internet for some hope for my non curable cancer which is soul destroying when time is so precious.

Myself and Darren have decided that the best option for me would to receive treatment in America. If accepted, I will need to be there for a few months to receive a drug called Keytruda which is having very promising results and Immunotherapy. This still won't be a cure but will hopefully prolong my life to be able to make many more happy memories with my boys and my family and friends.

As we all know, America is very much ahead of their game when it comes to treatment but it comes at a very big price but right now, I can't put a cost on my life and time with Theo, so I am determined to make this work so at least I can say that I tried. Theo needs to see his mummy trying to fight this awful disease.

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 Please help me make more time in the place where I have finally found my happiness.