THE devastated family of a young woman whose cancer has returned are hoping to raise £200,000 to help get her alternative treatment abroad.

Monique Buckingham, from Colchester, was just 21 when she was diagnosed with advanced bowel cancer.

Her family was told her prognosis was not good and she would need to start palliative care.

Brave Monique, now 24, underwent 58 cycles of chemotherapy and reached no evidence of disease status for two years.

But in August she received the devastating news her cancer had returned in the lining of her abdomen, pelvis and her ovaries.

A specialist surgical centre in Basingstoke found Monique unsuitable for surgery and she has begun chemotherapy again.

After three months she will undergo scans to see if the therapy has staved off the cancer.

Now her family have launched a drive to raise £200,000 to help fund alternative treatment abroad.

Gazette:

Dad Paul said: “Chemotherapy has been by far the toughest thing Monique has undergone.

“The physical and mental side effects have been harrowing.

“Watching her courage and determination to push forward despite this has been inspiring.

“I don’t know how she has done it, she is so brave and has taken it in her stride.

“We are devoted to Monique and now devoted to extensively researching multiple different treatments both here in the UK and abroad which we believe Monique will benefit from and help her diagnosis.

“Unfortunately her options on the NHS are limited due to her diagnosis and the treatments which will ultimately benefit her life are not covered by the NHS and are very costly.”

Her parents hope the money can be used to explore cannabis oil treatment in Israel or get Monique on a medical trial.

“They are about 20 years ahead of America and you hear stories of how it is helping stop cancer and how it treats the terrible side effects,” Paul said.

“There are a couple of places in America which offer treatment and there is a clinical trial at Imperial College London and also in Spain.

“It all comes down to finances and the NHS is doing its best but there is only so much they can do.

“We have to move on and if we don’t, I fear she won’t make it.

“I will do everything I can even if it means selling my house.”

Any funds which are leftover and do not go towards funding the treatment will be split between three of Monique’s chosen charities - CLIC Sargent, Teens Unite, Bowel Cancer Research UK - and Colchester Hospital.

When Monique was first diagnosed she had been going to her GP with stomach problems for five years, but it was put down to irritable bowel syndrome.

In January 2017, she was rushed into emergency surgery after a CT scan found her bowel had perforated.

Eight hours later she emerged from surgery with a colostomy bag and was told a tumour had caused her illness.

Both Monique and her family want to share her story and urge people to speak up if they believe they are ill.

Paul said: “The message is when you get a diagnosis and you are not satisfied with the opinion get a second opinion.

“Cancer doesn’t have a preference and doesn’t care if you are young or old. It does not discriminate.

“We have started this funding page in order to raise the funds needed to provide Monique with these life-saving treatments as well as to enable her to live her life independently, comfortably and to the full.”

Last week Monique and her family enjoyed a holiday to Cyprus - the first the family has been able to have in three years.

Monique has set up an Instagram account detailing her journey.

You can follow it at www.instagram.com/thelifeofmique.

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