A Mother’s Last Hope: Racing Against Time for a Life-Saving Treatment in Turkey
A London mother diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of blood cancer after beating breast cancer is getting a second chance at life, undergoing an experimental treatment in Turkey after exhausting NHS options.
Suna Kilic received the devastating news last month that she had only months left to live. The diagnosis: therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia, a rare and aggressive form of cancer triggered by chemotherapy she received for breast cancer. Her daughter, 26-year-old teaching assistant Diana, refused to accept this as a final answer, launching a relentless quest for a solution.
Their journey began in 2021 when Diana noticed a lump while playing with her mother.
"We were at home, just having some fun, playing around. I felt something unusual. I said wait a second, let me have a look. There was a lump," she recalled, the shock still fresh in her voice. Diana’s quick thinking led to a series of scans and eventually a diagnosis of HER2+, an aggressive type of breast cancer.
"We were lucky in some ways," Diana said. "Everything happened so quickly.
Treatment began immediately, eight rounds of intensive chemotherapy successfully shrinking the tumor. Hope soared with each successful round. However, residual cancer revealed its cruel angle.
A Worrying Twist: The Return of Cancer in a New, Devastating Form
Dr.
Something wasn’t right. After weeks of feeling unwell and
After several weeks of feeling unwell, Suna began experiencing unusual symptoms: bruising around the area where she’
What are the ethical considerations surrounding medical tourism, particularly for patients with limited treatment options in their home country?
**Host:** Joining us today is [Guest Name], a cancer researcher with expertise in leukemia and experimental treatments. [Guest Name], this story of Suna Kilic, a mother battling a rare leukemia after successfully overcoming breast cancer, is truly heartbreaking. However, it also highlights the incredible lengths families will go to for a chance at survival. What are your thoughts on Suna travelling to Turkey for an experimental treatment after exhausting NHS options?