Family launch urgent appeal to fund Glasgow woman's lifesaving cancer treatment abroad
A heartbroken family are in an urgent race against time to raise funds for lifesaving cancer treatment abroad after 28-year-old Patrycja Cichocka was told she has just weeks to live.
Patrycja, a beautician and much-loved sister from Priesthill was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour pressing on her spine. Her family claim doctors in Scotland have given them the devastating news that there is nothing more they can do.
Now, the Cichocki family are pleading for help to get her to specialists in Poland or Germany, who are willing to administer proton therapy, an advanced and highly targeted form of radiotherapy.
Her sister, Agnieszka Cichocki told the Record: "Scottish doctors have told us there's nothing more they can do. But Patrycja is a warrior. We're not ready to give up and would go to the ends of the earth for her."
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Patrycja's symptoms began last year when she started experiencing headaches, vomiting, speech problems and mobility issues. She collapsed trying to climb stairs and was repeatedly told by her then-GP, that she had "a viral infection" and needed rest and to drink plenty of water.
Agnieszka said: "She was dismissed twice by the GP twice, by the third week we had to take her to hospital ourselves. They finally did a scan and we discovered it was a brain tumour."
She was diagnosed with medulloblastoma on October 7, 2024, after an MRI scan at the Beatson Cancer Centre. The family later learned she had been born with the condition, but it had only become active after a fall while running for a bus.
Patrycja underwent nine radiotherapy sessions from December to early January and three rounds of chemotherapy. In January, doctors told her the tumour appeared to be gone.
However, just over six months later, the cancer has returned and is growing at a terrifying rate.
"It's gone from the size of a 5p piece to a £2 coin. A second tumour is now pressing onto her spine. She's barely able to speak. She wobbles constantly and struggles to hold a spoon to eat. But she still refuses to give up."
Her family say her medical team in Scotland have deemed any further operation too risky. However, clinics in Germany and Poland have told them proton therapy could give Patrycja more time.
The Essen Clinic in Germany - where the family are awaiting confirmation based on her full records - has reportedly carried out similar operations successfully. But the family say they are struggling to get all the official documents from NHS Scotland and the Beatson, only photocopies of MRI scans have been provided so far.
"We're trying to get legal aid involved to push for her documents. Without those, we can't move. We're losing time every day, it's already been a week since we were told she had two to six weeks left."
Patrycja's fiancé, Karol Wiechkowski, who is also her full-time carer, helps her move around the house and acts as her 'wheelchair', as Patrycja refuses to use her actual one.
"She says 'I'll do it myself.' That's who she is, she's so determined. She's always looked after us and now we have to fight for her."
The family are currently fundraising for the cost of medical transport, a specially-adapted vehicle, ferry travel, and whatever cost the treatment abroad will be.
Patrycja's treatment will cost approximately £120,000. So far, they have raised around £9,000 in Scotland and £1,500 in Poland through a separate fundraiser.
The family's restaurant, Bistro Attaca in Tollcross, has also had to temporarily shut down while they focus all their efforts on saving Patrycja's life.
Before she became unwell, Patrycja worked there alongside running her own beauty business, offering tattoo removals and facial treatments.
"She's the strongest person in our family. She's the eldest sister and always puts everyone first. Now we just want the chance to save her. We'd go to the ends of the earth for her."
The family are raising funds via GoFundMe.
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