Mrs. Shipra Ghosh, residing at Nutan Para, Ward no. 6, Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, was diagnosed with breast cancer (Invasive Carcinoma of Breast) and on the advice of a local doctor here, we rushed her to the Tata Medical Centre, New Town, Kolkata where we were told by the doctors that her treatment would require cycles of chemotherapy, followed by surgery, radiotherapy along with Trastuzumab injections and the entire expenditure would amount to Rs 6,80,000 approximately (excluding the expenditure for various tests, bed charges, medicines, other expenses etc.) over the course of 1 year. The doctors there advised us to complete the 8 cycles of chemotherapy from Siliguri Nursing Home, Hakim Para, Siliguri as it would be easier for the patient to do her chemotherapy from a nearby hospital as chemotherapy is often accompanied with side-effects. So far, with donations from her relatives and friends, she was able to complete 4 cycles of chemotherapy and now the patient is being taken to Tata Medical Centre, Kolkata for USG guided fudicial placement and check up and then she will be brought back to Siliguri Nursing for the remaining 4 cycles of chemotherapy. The patient will undergo surgery and radiation along with Trustuzumab injections at Tata Medical centre, Kolkata post completion of chemotherapy at Siliguri. For the remaining 4 chemotherapies, an expenditure of around Rs. 1,40000 is estimated (each costing Rs. 35000 which includes Rs.12000 for chemotherapy alone and Rs. 23000 for one single Trastuzumab injection). (Note: The previous 4 chemotherapies were not accompanied by Trastuzumab injections. The injections will be given to the patient from the next cycle onwards and a total of 17 injections will be required throughout the course of 1 complete year). Once chemotherapy is completed, we are expecting assistance from PMRF, CMCRF and Tata Medical Trust (only if these grants are sanctioned on time) for completion of the remainder of the treatment at Tata Medical Center, Kolkata. But no such assistance is available to us for the remaining chemotherapies at Siliguri Nursing Home. She also had to undergo some extra expenses as she had fallen very ill on account of low WBC count a few days back and hence had to stay admitted for nearly a week during which she was given blood transfusion and antibiotics to recover as well. Prior to her ailment, Shipra Ghosh, worked as a Grade IV employee (maid) at Saint Anthony’s School here in Jalpaiguri and earned nearly Rs. 4400 monthly. But with her being diagnosed with cancer, she could no longer continue with her work. Unfortunately, her son too have no means of earning at present and her husband works as a night guard in an apartment and earns near about Rs. 5000 monthly. Therefore, as you can see at present, their family earnings stand at Rs. 5000 per month only and therefore are at a great financial crisis and it is impossible for them to carry out my the treatment unless financial aid is granted to them from different corners of the society. Clearly, they also “cannot” afford a loan. If people come ahead and donate small amounts of money for her treatment, only then her treatment will be continued at present and she will be able to complete her remaining four cycles of chemotherapy.Your kind support can save her life.