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Smile that says '10,000 thanks'
A BRAVE cancer victim has started what she hopes is life-saving treatment – thanks to the help of kind-hearted fundraisers.
And Heather Parkinson says visiting her Kirkham pet shop is helping to keep her spirits up.
The 27-year-old, who owns Kirkham Pet Centre, on Market Square, received a course of cancer-fighting drugs following a diagnosis of Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
The 27-year-old was originally refused the ground-breaking drug basiliximab, or CHT25, because it is currently unlicensed.
But her treatment was funded after local people raised 10,000.
Miss Parkinson said: "After all the amazing effort that went into fundraising, the treatment took just 40 minutes.
"It was surreal, I was radioactive for a week, and I had to be alone in my room.
"My dog Teagan had to stay at the other side of the room and just watch me.
"But within a week I felt so much better, and the best thing was being able to walk Teagan, and visit my pet shop and see everyone again."
When she was diagnosed, Miss Parkinson was told she might be able to take part in the trial, which would require a one-off payment of 3,000 from her primary care trust.
However, bosses at NHS Central Lancashire kept her waiting for 13 weeks while they made a decision – only to turn her down on the grounds the drug was not yet licensed.
But wellwishers managed to raise 10,000 for the 16,000 treatment within a month.
While Miss Parkinson had to undergo a biopsy to make sure the cancer had not spread to her bone marrow.
She added: "I didn't go to my shop for two months before I started the treatment at the beginning of July, but a week later I was able to go down once a week.
"It was fantastic to see the regular customers and the staff again.
"My mum, Sheila, has been brilliant and has been looking after the shop for me. I hope to go back full time again in about a year, and I know it's going to be a long hard slog, but I can't wait to get back.
"I have been going for blood tests every week and the consultant is really happy with the way things are going.
"I have a scan on September 21 to tell me how the treatment has gone, but I can tell it's done wonders because I feel so much better."
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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