An Andover family is making a heartfelt appeal to the public as a devoted mother-of-two faces the most difficult fight of her life.
Fatma, a much-loved local mum known for her strength, humour, and selflessness, has been diagnosed with terminal Stage 4 Metastatic Breast Cancer. Despite her bravery and relentless positivity, her cancer has now spread to her liver, and doctors have given her just months to live.
Her sister, Esin Dervish, has launched an urgent fundraising campaign to explore potentially life-extending treatment options that are not available on the NHS—offering Fatma more time with her children and loved ones.
In 2021, Fatma was first diagnosed with breast cancer. Following surgery and radiotherapy, she was given the all-clear and placed on a long-term preventative treatment plan. In true Fatma spirit, she embraced life with full force—raising her children, keeping fit, and making the most of every day.
But just a year later, when she began to experience pain and fatigue, doctors initially attributed her symptoms to side effects of her cancer medication. It wasn’t until she suffered a broken toe and later a fractured rib that further investigations were carried out. Devastatingly, scans revealed that the cancer had returned and spread throughout her bones.
Fatma, barely 5ft tall but with unshakable resolve, endured emergency radiotherapy to protect her spine. And, once again, she bounced back with her signature courage.
Her daughter Leyla, 21, has a severe lifelong disability and relies on Fatma’s constant love and care. Her 17-year-old son Jeyan is still finding his way in life and needs his mother now more than ever. “She is the lifeline of our family,” says Esin. “Leyla needs her, Jeyan needs her, and I need her. I don’t know what I’d do without my sister.”
Now, with the cancer spreading to Fatma’s liver, the family has been told that chemotherapy may only prolong her life by a few months. Refusing to accept this as the end, Esin is exploring innovative, holistic, and international treatments—options that offer hope.
Among them are TACE (Transarterial Chemoembolisation), a treatment available in Germany, and Histotripsy, an advanced therapy in the United States that uses sound waves to destroy cancer cells. However, the cost for these treatments is high—Histotripsy alone is estimated at $50,000 (£39,000). Fatma will also need to cover all additional costs for scans, medication, blood tests, and international travel.
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to raise the necessary funds, and the family is urging the public, local businesses, and compassionate individuals to support them in their race against time.
“Fatma has already been through so much,” says Esin. “After the trauma of her daughter becoming seriously ill, she still managed to be the ‘crazy mummy’ who made life fun and joyful for her children and everyone around her. We are absolutely devastated by this news—but we are not giving up. We are throwing everything we can at this fight.”
Any donation, no matter how small, could make a huge difference to Fatma’s chances of accessing treatment—and creating more precious memories with her family.
You can support Fatma’s fight by visiting:
👉 gofundme.com/f/fatmas-fight-against-cancer
The family is also asking supporters to share the campaign as widely as possible—particularly with companies or organisations who may be in a position to help.
“We still have so much more life to live, and so many memories to make,” Esin adds. “Please, help us keep our Fatma here for as long as we can.”