Mum thanks public for cancer treatment donations

A mum diagnosed with a brain tumour has said she "can't thank people enough" after £90,000 was raised to help fund effective treatment for her.

Katie Synnott, from Castleford in West Yorkshire, was told she had glioblastoma - an aggressive and fast-growing type of cancer - in late January.

Surgeons have only been able to remove part of the tumour from Ms Synnott's brain and well-wishers have since donated cash to pay for a type of treatment she is unable to access on the NHS.

A further bucket collection was held for the mum-of-four before Castleford Tigers' rugby league game against Salford on Friday night.

Ms Synnott's husband, Ryan Boyle, played for Castleford for seven years across two spells.

Speaking to BBC Look North from the Tigers' Wheldon Road ground, Ms Synnott said she had initially been told the tumour was benign before a further scan revealed that was not the case.

She had initially gone to the doctors after suffering from a severe headache and bouts of vomiting since Christmas.

"It's been a horrific six weeks and I'm only matter of fact about now because I have to be," she said.

"I cannot thank people enough for giving their money to me. Everyone's just given what they can give and it's amazing.

"Ultimately it will benefit me because it will keep me alive for longer."

Ms Synnott will soon start chemotherapy, which she will have to undergo every day for six weeks, as well as radiotherapy.

Her family are trying to raise £150,000 to pay for immunotherapy, which uses the body's immune system to fight cancer cells.

Mr Boyle said he was touched but unsurprised by the community's response to the fundraising appeal.

"It's a hard-working town, Castleford, and the rugby league community in general, and we all pull together in tough times," he said.

"It's unfortunate that we're having to go through this but it's just heartwarming the amount of fundraising that's going on and people reaching out that don't have a tie to me. It's unbelievable."

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