FRIENDS and family of a Runcorn woman who has just been told that her brain cancer has returned have launched a fundraising campaign to secure specialist treatment that will help her fight the disease.

Azanith Watts, from The Glen, Palacefields, has been suffering from Lupus since she was 17 as well as a range of other illnesses including fibromyalgia, arthritis and chronic kidney disease, which have all had a debilitating effect on her life.

In spite of her illnesses, friends and family have said Azanith, who is originally from the Philippines, has remained positive and continued working when she was able, trying to live a normal life.

In June last year, she was diagnosed with central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma, which is a rare cancer that affects the central nervous system, the brain and the spinal cord.

Azanith’s suffered from extreme headaches, nausea and vomiting as well as a change in mental alertness, confusion and disorientation and, after an emergency trip to hospital, she was told she had three large lesions on her brain.

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Within days she had to have a double craniotomy and craniectomy to surgically remove the tumours from her brain.

Less than 12 months later, Azanith wasn’t feeling any better thinking the pain and other complaints were after effects of the surgery.

She has now been told that the cancer has returned and another tumour has grown on her brain in the same location as the first.

With Azanith’s kidney problems, she cannot have surgery or general aesthetic and chemotherapy isn’t an option but there is hope that can help with the battle against the disease.

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Close friend Jacqueline Pattison said: “There is one treatment suggested by her specialists called Cytotoxic T Cell treatment, which kills the cancer cells but costs £30,000 and isn’t available on the NHS.

“We can’t afford this treatment but we want to help Azanith to receive it and so we started up a fundraising page so that people could make donations to reach the total.”

Azanith said: “I am overwhelmed with everyone’s prayers and support in helping me with this fight.

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“I didn’t expect to have such overflowing love from everyone, even from strangers.

“The cancer and Lupus Affect my energy levels and as much as I try to maintain my positive outlook, the other part of me suffers the highest level of anxiety.

“It takes a lot of mental and physical energy to see anyone and, at the moment, the only people I’m able to see are my specialists and consultants.”

To make a donation to Azanith’s page visit https://gofund.me/bb614908