Alison Armstrong, Jetset’s director of sales for the east of England, has called for funding for a groundbreaking treatment for her husband, who suffers from a rare and unique form of cancer.
Suffolk-based Alison Armstrong has quit her full-time job as she is the sole caregiver for husband Rob, whose cancer is so rare she doesn’t even have a name.
Rob, 58, fell ill last year after injuring his back and starting to feel and needles on the right side of his body. Doctors found that the back pain was due to a large tumor in his brain that was pressing on nerves and receptors.
He quickly deteriorated, lost sight in his right eye, sensation and motor function, and can no longer work as a naval engineer.
He had gamma knife radiotherapy, a procedure normally given only once, but in Rob’s case it was given five times and resulted in the tumour shrinking, but Rob’s symptoms did not go away.
Here the GoFundMe page
The cancer in his brain is not the primary tumor, which doctors have not been able to identify and are not sure if it is extinct or hidden.
In May this year, the family was informed that there was no other treatment available, but a second opinion revealed that a new drug, called Trastuzumab Deruxtecan, could help. The intravenous drug will cost around £10,000 per session and may require four sessions, which will be repeated every three weeks.
Last week, the family was informed that Rob was eligible for treatment. Rob and Alison’s son Stephen, who lives in Dubai, is sponsoring the first session and their daughter Loti has set up the GoFundMe campaign to raise money for further treatment and associated medical expenses.
Loti said the new treatment will give her father “one last chance to fight cancer.” “Prior to April 2023 my father was a healthy, fit and active member of his community, with no history of cancer in our family. He was known for his loud laugh, eclectic collection of shirts.
The fundraiser, set up late last week, reached £10,000 in 48 hours and now tops out at £15,000, with an anonymous donor pledging £1,000.
“Rob is only 58 years old. We celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary last year. Before that, he had never been out of work. He had been working until he fell and had begun to think about part-time. He is a very proud man, but he now finds it more difficult. He has no vision in his right eye, his right arm is almost inactive and his right leg is not working properly. I am his sole caregiver and I find it increasingly difficult. Jetset has supported us amazingly, but I’m only working a few hours a week right now and money is limited. We have not asked for help so far. We are very grateful for all the support,” Alison told Travel Gossip.
According to her, this is the only drug available and its cost is significant.
“Doctors don’t know yet what they’re dealing with, but it should have some benefit and shrink the tumor and swelling in the surrounding area. They said they believe this will help him. In the way they described it, they said the drug has a backpack of chemotherapy on its back, it looks for this particular mutation and attacks it,” he added.
Alison has been with Jetset for 17 years and has also served as a sales representative for various other travel companies, including Mundi Color, Superbreak and Best Western.
