A mother shared her experience of mistaking toothache for a severe type of cancer. Keshia Liburd, aged 38, is seeking medical assistance in Germany since the NHS cannot provide the necessary treatment. In 2023, Keshia initially believed her toothache required a dental visit but was surprised when her teeth were found to be healthy.
Subsequently, Keshia began experiencing chest pain by September, leading her to call emergency services for an ambulance to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary for an X-ray. After a distressing 16-day wait, she received the devastating news of having ALK-positive lung cancer, a rare and aggressive subtype that often affects non-smokers with no prior symptoms.
Despite the availability of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in the UK, there is a lack of NHS-funded targeted medication for Keshia’s condition. Initially successful chemotherapy treatments rendered her cancer-free in January 2024, only for the cancer to return three months later, spreading to her liver, lymph nodes, and brain.
Facing multiple rounds of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy, Keshia is currently undergoing her fourth round of chemotherapy. With limited treatment options in the UK, she is turning to Germany for advanced therapies like T.A.C.E and Dendritic Cell Therapy offered at the WEGE Clinic in Bonn, costing £40,000, which her family cannot afford independently.
Keshia, supported by her partner, Jimmy, and children Josiah, Sienna, and Ezekiel, has initiated a fundraiser that has raised over £8,000 so far. Her cousin, who started the GoFundMe campaign, emphasizes the importance of raising funds to access life-saving treatment in Germany to help Keshia witness her children grow up.
The family expresses gratitude for the ongoing support and donations, highlighting the crucial role of hope and communal effort in their fight against the disease.