Hi! My name is Ellie and I live in Bristol with my family. In August 2015, not long after my 39th Birthday I was diagnosed with inoperable advanced adenocarcinoma pancreatic cancer with metastases to my liver and peritoneum. I was given 6-12 months to live. I was offered palliative chemotherapy in the hope to control and slow the cancer down or even better, put it in to remission!

After 9 months on trial drug Abraxane combined with the standard treatment for pancreatic cancer, gemcitabine, I had a short period of remission. Unfortunately the abraxane was incredibly toxic with debilitating side effects and was stopped. The gemcitabine didn’t work on it’s own and the cancer grew. I had a couple of months to help my body recover from nerve damage before starting 2nd line treatment Oxaliplatin and capecitabine. After several months on this combination my scan showed disease progression plus a clot caused by the chemotherapy.

I am now no longer on chemotherapy and have run out of conventional options due to complications of having Ulcerative Colitis. I am waiting to see a cancer trials specialist in Oxford to see what first phase human trials are available to me.

I would love to be able to spend quality time with my family, most of all my 12 year old son who has had to deal with my relentless hospital appointments and missed out on family holidays, events & fun days out due to my illness and spending school holidays at home.

Any money raised would be used towards the following: Travel & accommodation costs to medical facilities. Alternative therapies and dietary supplements to help with pain relief, stress management, relaxation and generally help with my quality of life. MY BUCKET LIST is to have a memorable xmas & new year, a hotair balloon and/or helicopter ride, a short art course, a holiday in the EU, some fun days out to places such as Harry Potter studios and taking Zak to his first gig! Oh and maybe a cheeky skydive if I'm allowed!