The family of a teacher who was given a shock diagnosis after suffering back pain are desperately trying to raise cash to bring her home from Vietnam so she can have treatment. Selena Danson was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cervical cancer in December after initially suffering with back pain in August.
The 39-year-old, who moved to Vietnam to teach, made a string of trips to the hospital but was told she had a slipped disc. But the situation got worse and she was rushed to hospital, where she was given the terrifying diagnosis that she had stage four cervical cancer.
Selena, from Didsbury in south Manchester, is now hoping to return home to be with her family and get treatment at The Christie cancer centre, the Manchester Evening News reports. Sadly, the cancer has spread from her cervix to her lymph nodes and liver.
Because of an existing heart condition, Selena can only be blown home from Vietnam by air ambulance, but her family are bracing for "enormous" costs - with some estimates suggesting it could be up to £200,000. In a bid to get her home quicker, Selena's family have launched a GoFundMe page to try and raise awareness and cash.
So far, more than £10,000 has been raised by kind-hearted individuals, but more is still needed. If any extra cash is raised that isn't needed to fund a medical team and air ambulance, it will be donated to The Christie Centre.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, her older sister Michelle Danson, 42, said that Selena was born with a heart defect, but it wasn’t an issue when she moved to Vietnam to teach. “Then she started with back pain. She had x-rays and all sorts and they said it was a slipped disc. They had medical insurance over there. But it got worse and she went for a biopsy, an endoscopy, and a smear, and then she got told she had cervical cancer,” she said.
“Normally it's a slow growing cancer, but this type of cancer she has is fast spreading.”
Michelle, of Chorlton, said her 78-year-old mum and sister Nicole, who works as a nurse in neurosurgery, have gone over to Vietnam to support Selena, but they have less than 30 days before they must return and renew their visas.
“It’s hard for me to say this but my sister could end up dying over there, on her own,” Michelle said.
The family have been speaking with a medical repatriation team, who estimated the cost of an air ambulance could be between £100,000 and £200,000, and so the family are exploring a flight home with the medical team on a commercial flight.
Michelle added that if they exceed the cost of bringing Selena home by air ambulance, the money will be donated to The Christie Hospital.
Selena has already had one round of chemotherapy but sadly suffered a setback. She was admitted to hospital on January 1 with a fever and fatigue, and had to have a blood transfusion and is currently on IV antibiotics.
“She couldn’t get a basic flight, because if anything happens like that they would have to turn around or stop the flight,” Michelle said.
Speaking of her ‘incredible’ sister, she said Selena has rescued a dog whilst in Vietnam. She had seen the dog, Yuki, whose back legs don’t work, in a dog café, and begged the owners to allow her to rescue it. She has since given it a wheelchair so it can get around.
“Selena is amazing, she adopted a dog, she donates to charity. She is very black and white. She is an advocate for stopping cruelty against animals. She is a really decent person,” Michelle said.
“She was teaching maths and science at the EMG in Ho Chi Minh City, and she would go on her scooter everyday which would take over an hour to get there. She would go above and beyond and she would go out of her way to help people. She was so dedicated to her job, she is an incredible person.”
Speaking of the impact of the cancer, she said: “I just can’t believe this has happened. I actually told her off for going to Vietnam as it is so far away.
“We thought it was just a disc in her back causing the problem. She was still getting on her scooter and going to work. And then when that got too much she was paying for a taxi, and then her legs were swelling so much whilst she was working that she had to be taken to A&E and that's when she found out she had cervical cancer.
“How does that happen? It’s been horrendous. She had nobody. There’s been a lot of stress on us at the moment.
“The cancer has put so much pressure on her. She’s lost so much weight. When she found out she said 'I want to come back but I’m not leaving Yuki' (her dog).”
Selena plans to come home and live with her mum in Didsbury, something which her family are desperate for. Michelle has since decorated her bedroom pending her return, the family GP has been informed, and an oncologist at The Christie has been set up to help.
“We just want her home, where she can be cared for and supported by us,” Michelle added. To donate to the GoFundMe, click here.
