Rotherham mum with terminal cancer’s new treatment hope

A mum with terminal cancer who cannot get further NHS treatment has said she was going abroad in a final attempt to prolong her life.

Sophie White, 23, from Rotherham, was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour when she was 21, after she had a seizure while out for a meal with her baby and mum.

About £40,000 has been raised so far for Ms White to go to a specialist clinic in Germany, although the whole treatment course could cost £200,000.

Ms White, whose son Remi is now three years old, said: “I’ll try anything for my little boy. I don’t care what it is, I just want to be here for my baby.”

“He starts school in September, and I want to be here to take him on his first day. Hopefully I’ll get to do that,” she said.

Ms White was given 12 to 18 months to live when she was diagnosed with glioblastoma nearly two years ago.

She has undergone two brain surgeries and multiple rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but the tumour is still growing.

The NHS had been “absolutely brilliant” throughout her treatment, but it did not provide immunotherapy for brain tumours, Ms White said.

However, treatment by the German clinic she was aiming to go to should stimulate her immune system to attack the cancerous cells, slowing their growth and hopefully giving her more time, she explained.

Ms White said the fundraising effort towards the £200,000 goal, including £10,000 raised by South Yorkshire indie band The Reytons, had been “unreal”.

“I’m just grateful for all the support I have had, and have still got now,” she said.

“I wouldn’t have been able to do it without. It is so appreciated – I didn’t think I was this popular.”

Ms White is set to go to Germany on Monday for her first consultation, with the first treatment to follow a few weeks later.

Monitoring for results would take place in the months to come, she said.

“I just tell myself it’s not happening, so I don’t believe it’s happening. It is ridiculous, but it helps me,” Ms White said.

“I’ve not had any good news yet, so hopefully it works and I can just start to live my life with my son.”