'I would do anything to live'

More than half the €150,000 needed for a local retired GP to receive lifesaving cancer treatment has been raised, and in just nine days since its launch.

The fundraiser for Susan Cosnett has reached €90,000 since the Celt last spoke to her, with over 1,100 individual donations received.

“The response is just amazing - this time last week I was full of despair,” she shares.

The mum of three has a rare form of Acral Malignant Melanoma and is seeking help to go to Holland for treatment.

The cancer started as a small pink line under the nail of her left big toe but grew.

“My tumour is a death sentence when it goes to Stage 4, into your liver and lungs. It’s not one you’re going to live with for more than six months.”

Susan's primary motivation for pursuing the pioneering treatment is to be there for her family, especially her youngest son.

“I can’t die - he’s got special needs and epilepsy and can’t manage without me.

“That’s what kills me is that my third child isn’t able to be alone.

“I’m going to try it for him and for Greg whose got no extended family at all.”

The new treatment, known as Tumour Infiltrating Lymphocytes will cost around €150,000, including hospital bills. The Antoni Van Leeuwenhoek Hospital in Amsterdam requires €120,000 of this for the treatment and have said additional bills can be paid for afterwards.

The retired Ballyconnell GP hopes to go for screening in August, surgery in September and the TIL therapy in early October.

After the therapy, the 62-year-old will have to stay in hospital for two weeks, and then stay within 30 kilometres of the hospital for one month.

She’s hoping that a “deposit” payment for half of the treatment might work, “at least” until she has surgery in September which would leave more time to pay the rest.

In January 2023 the hospital was allowed to perform the treatment on compassionate terms with the aid of health insurance companies for Grade 4 Malignant Melanoma, which does not respond to immunotherapy, the same as Susan has. The treatment is not available in Ireland as it has not yet been approved by the European Medicines Agency.

“It includes only countries whose governments will allow it on compassionate grounds.

“That’s why we’ve been so late for [setting up the] Gofundme, I’ve been a month writing letters to and fro.

“Unless it’s verified treatment, they [the government] wouldn’t give me a penny.”

This week, along with a local councillor, Susan will write another letter to the Minister for Health appealling for treatment funding.

“I’m not just arguing for myself, it's also for others,” she emphasised. “I’d love the government to tick the box on compassionate grounds.”

Susan has been receiving Immunotherapy at Dublin’s Beaumont Hospital which is no longer deemed working.

Treatment in Holland is “tough” accepts Susan but it’s the only path through which she can retain hope.

“It’s actually a lot of criteria to be accepted for this therapy and I am fit enough, my heart is good enough for it.

“I had to go through so many milestones to be able to be a person who they hope would survive it. It’s tough therapy, it’s going to be hard, it’s alright though, I would do anything to live.”

“Better to go and do your best than to die slowly or quickly with no hope.”

Living in Killeshandra for the past 32 years, she and her family have been overwhelmed by the support received.

“I’ve had such an amazing week,” she said, speaking to The Anglo-Celt on Monday.

“It’s just amazing. People have sacrificed things themselves to give me the money that they probably would have used for treats and little days out.”

To donate, click here.