A FAMILY's fight to save the life of a 27-year-old woman from Kidderminster has been dealt another blow with the devastating news that pioneering treatment in America has failed to stop her cancer from progressing.
Megan Smith flew to the US to take part in a new clinical trial in December after doctors in the UK told her she had exhausted all of the treatments available to her.
The former carer was 24 when she was diagnosed with a rare stage four rectal cancer, which later spread to her liver and lung.
The clinical trial at Florida's Mayo Clinic was put on hold, however, when a scan uncovered 11 tumours on Megan’s brain, and the family received more bad news this month when a further scan revealed her cancer had grown by 10 per cent since the treatment resumed.
In an emotional live video after a meeting with her doctor, Megan told Facebook followers: "He told me there's nothing else he can do for me here. I've tried this new treatment and it's not worked.
"I've done nothing but cry for the last two days but I've been alright today. I'm just tired."
Despite the setback, the family aren't giving up hope of saving Meg's life.
Sister Terri said: "Unfortunately we didn’t get the results we had hoped for. The scan showed the treatment hadn't worked, which was devastating for all of us, especially for Megan. She's been trying so hard.
"We had a couple of days trying to get our heads round everything and then it was back to the drawing board.
"We had a meeting with the oncologist over there in Florida, but unfortunately they said there's nothing else treatment-wise he felt he could offer Megan.
"Ideally we want Megan to come home but we didn't want her to get back and there be no treatment available to her. Me and my brother have been researching non-stop but there isn't anything that would benefit Megan's cancer type in this country.
"We've found a few clinical trials in the US that use drugs Megan hasn't tried, but it's really difficult because she's not a US citizen. We’re looking into a few different things, but it’s constantly 10 steps forward and 20 steps back."
While family members are busy researching other clinical trials, Megan is undergoing CBD and THC therapies in California in an effort to halt the cancer's growth and give the family more time to find a suitable treatment.
Having already raised £138,000, they need to find a further £300,000 to pay off the bills from the Mayo Clinic and to get Megan started on a new trial - but the family say donations have come to a standstill.
Terri said: "We're in talks with a few different clinical trials but we're talking at least $300,000 for the medical care alone. It's huge amounts of money which can be really overwhelming.
"We've still got a massive bill at the Mayo Clinic which we're paying off with the funds we've already raised, but obviously that's another debt over ours and Megan's heads.
"We've raised around £138,000 so far which is above and beyond anything we were expecting and we hate asking people for more money, but we're trying to do whatever we can to get her this next treatment.
"I'm doing my best, literally pleading with billionaire companies and asking if any discount can be given on compassionate grounds.
"It's an ongoing process but time is a massive issue because Megan's cancer is progressing."
Family members have been out on the streets of Wyre Forest with collection buckets, and even people who don't know Megan have been organising fundraising events, including four-year-old Jenson Jarvis, who will be doing a sponsored bike ride from Kidderminster Sainsbury's to The Lock pub on May 21.
If the family can't save the money needed, Megan's mum could be left with no choice but to sell her house to pay for the treatment.
Terri said: "As a family, we're willing to do what we have to. We're not giving up without a fight and I know Megan certainly doesn’t want to.
"She takes it all in her stride and even though it’s been hard to deal with, she still stays positive.
"She is absolutely amazing and her sense of humour is keeping us all going."
To make a donation, visit gofundme.com/f/please-help-save-my-26-year-old-sisters-life. Any local groups or businesses able to donate raffle prizes are asked to contact the family through the Go Fund Me page.
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