A BALLYCONNELL GP who is battling a rare cancer has said that while "money can't buy life", it can buy an amazing chance of survival.

Dr. Susan Nicholson-Cosnett, who runs a private GP practice in Co. Cavan, is fighting a rare genetic ALM tumour, which has been unresponsive to conventional chemotherapy.

She has now been approved for revolutionary Tumour-Infiltrating Lymphocytes  (TIL) therapy at the AVL (Netherlands Cancer Institute) Hospital in Amsterdam, which she is hoping will give her a crucial chance of survival.

A GoFundMe page has since been set up to cover the €150,000 cost of TIL therapy and hospital bills.

So far, the appeal has raised an amazing €99,432 at the time of going to print.

"I never thought I would be asking for this kind of help," said Dr. Nicholson-Cosnett.

"As Bob Marley - who died in 1981 of the same type of cancer as myself - said, ‘Money can't buy life’.

“But, in Europe in 2024, money can help those in my situation with an amazing chance of survival!"

She continued: "The AVL cancer hospital in Amsterdam, which I have visited, has approved treatment for me; unfortunately Ireland does not offer this treatment, and can do no more for me.

"I have a very rare tumour amongst fair-skinned Europeans. They said I am strong enough right now for TIL therapy, but my time is running out. I am humbly asking for your help."

Dr. Nicholson-Cosnett has spent her working life helping people in a small family practice in Ballyconnell, which she set up with her husband, Dr. Greg Cosnett, in 2005.

She was hoping to set up a Well Woman, cancer surveillance and dermatology surveillance clinic in 2021 before she received the terrible diagnosis.

"TIL therapy is tough and I am going to embrace it in an attempt at a cure," she continued. "In my shoes, you would do anything to live.

"I am one of the first people in Ireland to get this treatment for my rare cancer, which will be a standard of care in the very near future. The cure for cancer is just within our grasp.

"In the very near future, it will be used for curing late colorectal, cervical and head/neck cancer."

She is hopeful that the therapy will allow her to enjoy more time with her beloved family.

"My youngest son has struggled with epilepsy since the age of six years old, and he hopes to be a cell biologist one day, and I would love to live to help him in his struggles," she continued.

"Our two other young adult children are at the beginning of their lives. I feel I just cannot die.

"I am sad at the prospect of never being able to dance at their weddings, to see any of my own grandchildren, or to help them all through the trials of life. I have a lot to give."

She added: "I pledge to help anyone I can with cancer, and that any unused GoFundMe money will go to help others in Beaumont Public Hospital, this year of hope."

To donate, see: https://tinyurl.com/22zm35mt.