A young mother with brain cancer who receives chemotherapy to extend her life said her treatment may be halted due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Nancy Carter-Bradley was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2005 but after several rounds of chemotherapy she was found to be in remission.
But to her shock, the cancer returned in October 2019 and she was rushed back to Charing Cross Hospital, in London, for more treatment.
Nancy was told she couldn’t be cured and the treatment was to extend her life, but now it could be halted as the hospital is preparing to be overrun by coronavirus patients.
Nancy, a mother-of-two from Penwood, Hampshire, said: “Everything is up in the air because of coronavirus.
“I receive treatment from a London hospital and they’re preparing to be completely overrun.
“I’ve been told they may not be able to run clinics because everyone will be expected to treat covid-19 patients.
“The news knocked the wind out of me. I’m devastated, it’s terrifying.
“No one is put on chemo for fun, for me it is for the purpose of life extension – I can’t be cured.
“By not having the treatment it means my life won’t be extended.”
Nancy has been documenting her journey on Instagram under the account name @avocadofairy, and many of her 8,702 followers were shocked to hear the news.
She said that she understand that no one was prepared for the pandemic, but believes that more should be done to help others in her situation.
She continued: “I know this is difficult for people but you would have thought there was ring-fenced care for people with cancer.
“The reason why people are socially distant is to protect people in my position, but ironically it’s people like me who are having our care taken away from us.
“It’s all very backwards.
“This isn’t going away very soon, and there is a whole community of cancer patients out there who are terrified.
“I’ve received hundreds of messages from people in the same situation and they’re scared.
“It’s not just what the lack of chemotherapy does but it’s the mental health side too, it’s not easy having cancer and then to take our treatment away is truly terrifying.”
Nancy said that the news about her treatment being in jeopardy has had a negative effect on her mental health, and that she’s worried about the future.
She continued: “I’ve been at rock bottom, but I’ve picked myself back up with the help of my family – and a few gin and tonics.
“I feel for the consultants, they’re having to make call after call with devastating news.
“I’d like to not be in this position, but others have it tough too. I spoke to someone with a year prognosis and they were put at the back of the queue for treatment.
“At the minute, the news is vague at best – at worst it’s pretty darn negative.
“Someone I know with brain cancer was supposed to be put onto a trial but it’s been stopped, he will be dead in two months.
“The pandemic is jeopardising people’s lives. I’m not having a go at the NHS, doctors are having to make very difficult decision because of the virus.”
Nancy said she believes the situation has been worsened by Boris’ delayed reaction, and the NHS has been placed under added strain as people have flaunted the rules.
She concluded: “The system is under pressure because people aren’t obeying the rules and Boris didn’t implement a lock down quick enough.
“I have friends in France and they were shocked we weren’t put on lock down earlier, it’s like we locked the door after the horse has bolted.
“We’ve done the classic British thing and asked nicely rather than putting our foot down and being hard about it.
“People should obey the lock down rules and realise that everyone’s actions affect people like me and people who are receiving treatment and need to receive treatment to save their lives.”
Nancy is mother to Toby, 21, a soldier, and Freya, 20, a medical student. She is married to David Bradley, 53.