A Somerset family’s world was turned upside down last year when Lisa Pugh, 38, was diagnosed with adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC), a rare form of cancer. Lisa and her husband Dean, also 38, who have known each other since they were 15 and are parents to two young sons, are now fighting not only the disease but also the high costs of cutting-edge treatment.
Lisa recalls the shock of her diagnosis: “One moment, I was balancing work and motherhood, and the next, I was preparing for radical surgery with an uncertain future.” She has already undergone major surgery to remove the tumor located in her sinuses and now faces a critical next step—additional radiotherapy to improve her chances of survival.
Dean admits they were unfamiliar with ACC before Lisa’s diagnosis. “We’ve had to become experts ourselves because even oncologists rarely see this type of cancer,” he said.
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The treatment they are pursuing is proton beam therapy, an advanced form of radiotherapy that uses protons instead of traditional X-rays to target cancer cells more precisely. This approach minimizes damage to healthy tissues nearby, a key benefit when tumors develop near sensitive areas such as the sinuses.
However, NHS eligibility for proton beam therapy requires patients to meet strict criteria. Despite being referred by a specialist, Lisa’s test results for Perineural Invasion (PNI)—a condition where cancer spreads along nerve pathways—were inconclusive, meaning she does not qualify for NHS-funded proton therapy.
Determined to do everything possible, the Pugh family has launched a fundraising campaign aiming to raise £80,000 to cover the cost of the treatment, travel, and ongoing care. So far, their fundraiser has garnered £21,148 in support from generous donors.
Dean expressed heartfelt gratitude: “We cannot thank everyone enough—whether they’ve donated £5 or £1,000, every contribution is making a difference.”
The Pught family continues to raise awareness about ACC and the importance of access to specialized treatments, hopeful that the community’s support will bring Lisa the life-saving care she needs.