Doncaster mum given terminal cancer diagnosis in £50,000 fundraising campaign after coronavirus cancels treatment

Monika Wasiak, 34, has been battling the cancer for nearly a year but the COVID-19 pandemic has meant her scheduled chemotherapy has had to be cancelled.

Now the Polish mum of two is hoping she can raise the cash to pay for private treatment – and is calling on the public to help with donations.

She wants the money to help pay for crucial immunotherapy – with a London clinic prepared to take her on as a patient. But she has been told the treatment could cost £4,000 a month.

She said: “The worst enemy at the moment is Covid-19 and the enormous chaos in hospitals.

“My chemo was planned for April 3 but it had to be cancelled as oncologist patients are vulnerable and at most risk of catching the virus.

“It would be fatal because of the lack of immunity.”

A private London clinic specialising in immunotherapy has told her it is ready to start treatment – but she is now fundraising to try and meet the costs.

Monika was diagnosed with breast cancer in June 2019.

She said: “One morning I found a lump in my breast. I was sure I couldn’t have had it for long because the lump was so big it would be impossible not to feel it earlier.

“I had a doctor's appointment that day so thought I might use the opportunity and I mentioned it to him.

“After the visit everything was like a dream – within two weeks I had seen oncologists at the breast cancer clinic, had a mammography and biopsy done and the results came back positive.“

Miss Wasiak, who has a 5-year-old son and 16-year-old daughter, underwent further tests and surgery after it was discovered the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes, neck and spine.

Earlier this year, she was told that she only has 12-18 months to live.

She said: “I can’t remember that visit. I couldn’t say a word. I think I was sitting in there in complete silence for sometime maybe 10 minutes, then just asked if I could leave.

“I was escorted through the back door. I remember the exact moment when got into my car, I remember it because my heart broke ”

“I’m a single parent the thought that my kids will have to go through the pain of losing me broke me the most.

“I cried for over an hour in the middle of the car park, trying to get myself together over and over again.

“I had to go home, had to go back to my kids. I told the news to my daughter.

“We both cried our eyes out, but than she told me that she never knew anybody as strong and that I have to fight. Her words gave me strength. My son doesn’t understand what’s going on and I think that’s for the best.”

She said: “Please help me, help me to be a mum as long as possible. I know I can make it. I know I can be one of the patients which will prove that 12 months which doctors are giving me might be turned into 120 months.”

She added: “I am begging you on my knees, please help me.”

You can donate to Monika’s appeal HERE