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Cancer nurse forced to crowdfund her own treatment for drug not available on NHS

Laura Harris is crowdfunding her treatment (SWNS)
Laura Harris is crowdfunding her treatment (SWNS)

An NHS nurse is reportedly being forced to crowdfund treatment for her own terminal cancer, as the drug is not available on the NHS.

Laura Harris, 42, has spent her life helping cancer patients but has been told there is no treatment available for her own fight with the disease.

Laura was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer last year and given just three months to live.

But while she astounded colleagues by returning to work as a specialist oncology nurse at the North Devon District Hospital, an urgent appeal to raise £40,000 could now prove integral in funding the treatment she needs for more time with her young children.

Laura still works as an Oncology nurse in Devon (SWNS)
Laura still works as an Oncology nurse in Devon (SWNS)
The Go Fund Me page aims to raise £40,000 (SWNS)
The Go Fund Me page aims to raise £40,000 (SWNS)

After enduring hours of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, doctors say her options and time are now running out.

Laura believes that a treatment named Bevacizumab, unavailable on the NHS, may offer her some more time if she can urgently raise £20,000 for the first round.

Laura said: ‘As an oncology nurse, I’m only too aware of what I’m up against, but I’m not finished on this earth just yet.

Laura Harris hopes the drug will give her more time for her young children (SWNS)
Laura Harris hopes the drug will give her more time for her young children (SWNS)

‘I still feel I have so much more to give and I hope this treatment will buy me some extra time with my family.

‘This last year has been the hardest of my life but we are so grateful for the support we have already received.’

Laura has a husband Paul, two children and a stepson, and is also continuing to act as a carer for her own elderly mother.

A fundraising page set up for Laura’s treatment has already raised nearly £15,000.

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Laura added: ‘I want to thank everyone who has donated and everyone who is working so hard to raise money.’

According to Cancer Research UK, Bevacizumab is a cancer treatment drug and is also known by its brand name, Avastin.

It is a treatment for many different types of cancers, and works by targeting cancer cell proteins.

To donate to Laura’s appeal, please visit her GoFundMe page at www.gofundme.com/laura-treatment-fund