Fundraiser launched to save Moray women's life after 'devastating' bone cancer diagnosis
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MORE than £16,000 has been raised for a Moray youth worker who is battling bone cancer, but £22,000 is still needed to secure potentially life-saving treatment.
Beth Oxley (38), who lives near Cullen, received the devastating diagnosis in October last year after falling at work.
She was expecting to be given painkillers for her injured leg after going to A&E for treatment at Dr Gray's Hospital in Elgin. Instead, doctors informed her that she had bone cancer.
Within a couple of days, Beth was transferred to Woodend Hospital in Aberdeen. A series of scans and tests followed which found that Beth had an incredibly rare form of cancer that normally only develops in teenagers.
"It hit us like a train," Mike Emeny, Beth's partner of 10 years, said. "We were expecting pain killers for the fall and then we were told it was cancer which has completely turned everything upside down.
"I was actually put on a bed and hooked up to all the machines because I took it that hard.
"It's like being thrown into one of these documentaries. You just never think it will be you."
Beth was subsequently put onto one of the most brutal forms of chemotherapy: something that has left her with nerve damage.
And, after two rounds of the treatment, she was operated on to remove her lower femur and the tumour before her knee was replaced.
Doctors were hopeful that the chemotherapy would be 95 per cent effective.
However, after completing two more rounds of the aggressive treatment, Beth and Mike were informed that it had been less than five per cent effective.
"At the start the odds were with us," Mike said.
"But they've gone down a lot. She decided to carry on with the chemo because she felt that five per cent effective is better than nothing at all."
A treatment in Germany known as Dentric Cell Therapy could potentially save Beth's life.
It helps the immune system recognise and attack abnormal cells, including cancer cells, offering Beth a long-term cure.
However, the treatment costs £38,000 which is why Mike has set up an online fundraiser.
"There are no other options on the NHS," Mike said.
"It's like a ticking time bomb. The treatment in Germany is thought to be the future of cancer treatment going forward.
"I know it's an awful lot of money but she's got so much more to give.
"There are parents in Moray who still have their kids because of Beth.
"She never wants for anything. Even this fundraiser, she doesn't think she's deserving of it. She doesn't know how awesome she is."
Despite Beth's circumstances, she remains positive and has been blown away by the response to the fundraiser which has raised £16,325 so far.
However, she has returned to Aberdeen for treatment after developing an infection.
"We've got to wait for this infection to get better," Mike added.
"But the sooner we can get this treatment in Germany then the more chance there is that the cancer won't spread.
"She's been blown away by the response though. It's unbelievable and with Beth being back in hospital, for her to see this, it's just a massive boost.
"It's only hope that we've kind of got at the moment so we're clinging to getting this treatment."
Donations to Beth's fundraiser can be made here.
