Swiss hope for tumour mother

Andrea Dawson

A mother-of-four is going to Switzerland for life-saving proton beam treatment on a brain tumour.

Andrea Dawson (37) of Middleton was diagnosed with chondrosarcoma, a rare form of cancer, last June and had an operation four months later.

Though the specialist proton treatment will be paid for by the NHS, Andrea’s partner, Chris, and her four children will be going to Switzerland with her — and the accommodation and living costs for the three-month stay will add up to around £5,000.

Though the tumour hasn’t grown since her operation, doctors have warned it will without the extra treatment, which won’t be available in the UK until 2015. Further surgery is impossible due to the tumour’s position

Since Andrea’s diagnosis, her friend Jo Farrell has been rallying friends, local businesses and charities to raise money to fund friend’s stay abroad.

Jo (36) has set up a Facebook group (Support for Andrea) to raise the profile of Andrea’s illness and invite old school friends to get involved with the cause. The group now has over 600 members.