Pictures being taken on Friday

A MUM with terminal cancer has launched a desperate campaign to pay for pioneering treatment.

In May last year, Caroline Rowland was given the devastating news she had terminal stomach cancer – and that it had already spread to her lymph nodes.

The 52-year-old underwent palliative chemotherapy but in February, she was told the disease was progressing and the treatment was not working.

However, her husband Nigel and their 16-year-old daughter Rebecca refused to accept the devastating news and they discovered that the treatment immunotherapy, which is not available on the NHS, has provided miracle results.

But the pioneering treatment at a private clinic in London comes at a cost of £6000 per session every two weeks – and now she has launched a fundraising campaign to help pay the bills in a bid to create more memories with her family.

Caroline, who has lost three stone since she was diagnosed, said: “I haven’t asked how long I have left to live because I don’t want that hanging over me, but I know they wouldn’t expect me here this time next year or even by Christmas, if I did nothing.

“My first thoughts were ‘what about Rebecca?’ I would love to see my daughter through her education and be around to see her get her first boyfriend and even get married.”

“It’s that thought that you might not be there for your child. I would love to live to be old and grey with my husband Nigel.”

Caroline, who was unsuccessful when she applied for immunotherapy trials on the NHS, has already began sessions at UCLH and has so far raised the money needed through friends at her church St Paul’s in Throop.

The treatment is a pioneering pair of cancer drugs that unleash the immune system on tumours. Cancers are a corrupted version of healthy tissue and evolve ways of evading the immune system. Ipilimumab and nivolumab allow the immune system to attack.

After four sessions, Caroline will undergo scans to see if any progress is being made but other patients have reported miracle results.

Caroline, who is suffering from excess fluid and painful legs, said: “This is a huge leap of faith as the cost is huge however we are Christians and believe that if this is the way forward God will provide.

“It doesn’t work for everyone but there are patients who have been on it for two to three years so there is definitely hope. If you do the maths though, it is a huge undertaking.

Caroline’s church has raised £4600 and her friends are planning fundraising events.

“We had the money for the first one. Friends gave us £5000 towards the second one and fundraising will pay for the third. The church has raised £4600 and my friends have been amazing organising events.

“People are amazing. You don’t realise how much you are loved.

“I have my negative times. I think my husband probably sees it more than anybody else but I have been pretty strong.

“You can never take tomorrow for granted. I suppose it is about trying to live each moment rather than plan ahead.”

“At the moment, we are taking one step at a time and one day at a time but there is always hope.”

Rebecca, added: "It's been a really tough year for me and my family and I want to thank those who have supported us and to ask people who are willing to help with my mum's treatment. My mum is a truly amazing woman and I want to have her around for a long time. She is my best friend "

To support Caroline go to justgiving.com/fundraising/Caroline-Rowland52