Worcester mum starts pioneering Delcath cancer treatment

And Beth Walsh has urged people with any concerns to get checked, as she welcomed new figures revealing the survival rate of early diagnosis is on the rise. 

We previously reported Mrs Walsh, of Bath Road, needs to have three to four rounds of chemosaturation, also known as Delcath, to extend her life which costs £40,000 per treatment.

Her family helped fund the first round of treatment which she had on March 29.

"I was out of bed the same day, which I wasn't expecting to happen at all," Mrs Walsh said.

FIGHT: Beth Walsh, from Bath Road, has a super rare form of cancer and needs treatment to extend her life costing £40,000 per treatment.

"The treatment won't have worked that quickly.

"I will have another round of treatment in four weeks' time and they will do another scan and compare it with my last one.

"They are trying to get it free on the NHS, you have to pay for it at the moment.

"We are borrowing money and the support I have been getting from Worcester is amazing.

The 49-year-old's life was turned upside down after she was originally diagnosed with a ‘liver-dominant metastatic ocular melanoma’ in 2020.

READ MORE: Mum with terminal cancer fights for life-extending Delcath liver cancer op

It is a secondary liver cancer arising from a very rare form of primary cancer of the eye called ocular melanoma with led to Mrs Walsh having an eye removed.

New NHS figures show 74.3 per cent of people living in the NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire CCG area survived the first year after their cancer diagnosis in 2019, the latest figure available.

The figures do not include patients with prostate and non-melanoma skin cancers.

The 74.3 per cent figure was up from 73.7 per cent in 2018 and, in comparison, 66.1 per cent survived the first year in 2004 when records began.

Mrs Walsh said it was encouraging news.

"I had no symptoms, I just went for an eye test because my eye was starting to deteriorate," Mrs Walsh said.

"The opticians flagged it up, and it went from there. 

"I always say when you go for a test check the eye health, get the dilation which means they take a proper look around the eye.

"And any concerns people have they should get checked out.

"I was given 18 months to live in June 2020 - I guess that goes to show."

Meanwhile Beth's Army, the initiative friends set up to support her fundraising, is going from strength to strength having raised just under £3,000 from a fundraising disco held at The Marr's Bar, Pierpoint Street earlier this month.

FUNDRAISER: Beth Walsh, pictured right, on stage at the Marrs Bar

"To raise that money was amazing," Mrs Walsh said.

Friends have also previously taken part in a variety of fundraising challenges to raise money including a 100-mile walk and triathlons, while friend Elaine O'Connor is currently in the middle of a 20 squat-a-day challenge.

And more fundraisers are being planned, Mrs Walsh added.

For more on the fundraising effort visit Beth's Army - Raising Funds for Life Saving Cancer Treatment on Facebook.

To donate towards the treatment, visit gofundme.com/f/gofundmecomfBeths-Army.