UK mum seeks life saving cancer treatment abroad after nhs funding gaps

A mother of three fights ALK positive lung cancer as UK funding limits push her toward private care in Germany.

UK mum seeks life saving cancer treatment abroad after nhs funding gaps

Keshia Liburd, 38, believed a visit to the dentist would solve a toothache in 2023. After several tests she was told there was nothing wrong with her teeth and a grim diagnosis followed: ALK positive lung cancer, a rare and aggressive form that can affect non smokers. She underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy in the UK and was cancer free by January 2024, but the disease returned a few months later and spread to her liver, lymph nodes and brain.

In the UK, targeted drugs for this cancer are not funded by the NHS in her case. Now she faces a fourth round of chemotherapy while seeking access to treatments not available here in Germany, where the WEGE Clinic in Bonn offers options like T.A.C.E and Dendritic Cell Therapy. The cost is about £40,000, a sum her family cannot raise alone. A GoFundMe appeal has raised just over £8,000 so far as relatives appeal for public support and awareness.

This case exposes a larger fault line in UK health policy: life extending treatments exist, but access depends on budget decisions and ongoing policy debates about funding for rare cancers. It highlights how families must navigate a fragmented system where private fundraising often substitutes for formal coverage. Public attention to such stories can pressure policymakers to rethink how quickly personalized therapies reach patients in need.

At the same time, chasing treatment abroad raises questions about equity and practical outcomes. Cross border options may offer hope but come with high costs and logistical hurdles. The story suggests a need for clearer pathways, faster decision making, and a stronger safety net for families facing long odds when standard care falls short.

Highlights

Policy choices must reflect the real lives at stake.