Mum-of-two, 47, who felt unwell after flying to Florida gets devastating diagnosis
12.10.2023 - 06:25
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
The family of a former headteacher are hoping to raise tens of thousands of pounds to keep her alive following a devastating diagnosis in the United States. Having previously been diagnosed with a rare form of thyroid cancer earlier this year, mum-of-two Holly Hartley had travelled to Florida hoping to benefit from a self help retreat.
But feeling unwell, the 47-year-old checked into a hospital two days after landing, where a scan revealed she also had a brain tumour. Thankfully, the tumour has now been removed, and Holly has moved to a specialist cancer centre in Texas for further treatment.
But after two operations and with ongoing radiotherapy, plus the need for specialist medication, Holly has wracked up a hefty bill in the USA. Husband Alan Hartley, 43, told the Manchester Evening News: "It was lucky she checked into the hospital to do a scan.
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"If she was still in this country she would still have that brain tumour in her head. She's in the best place - but obviously, not for the money."
Holly had felt something was wrong with her thyroid last year, but her cancer was not diagnosed until she sought surgery to remove it. Medics eventually diagnosed her with poorly differentiated thyroid cancer at stage four, with the cancer having spread to her lungs.
While the cancer was also found in her brain last month, Holly has also suffered internal bleeding from tumours in her lungs. The family have already spent in the region of £100,000 on American medical bills and have used all of