Young woman faces terminal cancer, seeks £150k to reunite with family

A young woman named Alexandra Angeles Caycho received the heartbreaking news that she had only days to live after being diagnosed with a rare type of cancer for her age. At just 21, Alex initially believed she had sustained a rugby injury. However, doctors discovered she had terminal cancer.

Alex, who moved from Peru to Lancaster in 2021 to study art and design, started experiencing severe back and knee pain in February last year. She was diagnosed with stage three pancreatic cancer at just 20 years old.

She noticed unusual bowel movements and intense pain, which she attributed to rugby. “I had a lot of pain but thought it was a rugby injury. It never went away. My GP said I had hypermobility and flat feet causing the pain. It was so painful,” Alex recalled.

In the following weeks, her health rapidly declined. Her eyes turned yellow, and she struggled to sit for long periods. Her boyfriend, Dylan, rushed her to A&E, where doctors suggested a liver issue.

Alex said, “It spiralled from there. In June, I was in hospital with minor symptoms like vomiting, fever, and anaemia. I stayed for eight weeks, and my symptoms didn’t change. I was vomiting blood and had repeated infections. During this time, I found out I had stage four cancer, which had spread to my liver. I was transferred to Clatterbridge Cancer Centre in Liverpool.”

The diagnosis was a massive shock. “We never thought it would be this. Stage three sounds better than stage four because stage four is it. The doctors argued it wasn’t possible for me to have this type of cancer at my age, yet here I am,” Alex explained.

After graduating from university, Alex had hoped to pursue a master’s degree. She was sent home to spend time with her mum, Linda, and Dylan. Although she returned for chemotherapy, the treatment was paused when she vomited blood.

Alex told the Liverpool Echo, “They paused everything and put me back in the ward. They told me I had internal bleeding from the cancer and that I had days to weeks left to live. The cancer was locally advanced and couldn’t be operated on.”

She continued, “I’ve been through endless rounds of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and hospital stays. I’m too tired most days to do anything. I suffer from swelling, which has caused me to gain ten kilos of fluid. Most days, I stay in bed trying to eat and drink water if I can.”

Alex’s wish is to return to Peru to see her father, grandparents, and extended family one last time. However, the cost of an air ambulance home is around £150,000, a financial burden too heavy for her family.

She added, “My mum and partner have been a big support, doing everything possible to get me back home. But Peru is where all my family lives. I want to see my dad, grandad, aunts, and uncles. My mum and I live here alone.”

Dylan and Alex’s friends have set up a GoFundMe page to help with the costs. Dylan described his feelings as “scary” and “overwhelming,” especially at such a young age.

Linda, Alex’s mother, said, “We are trying to be OK. It’s overwhelming, and we are trying to take her back home, but it’s challenging arranging everything.”

Supporters can contribute to Alex’s GoFundMe and follow her updates on Instagram.