Dorset charity financially helps young Poole cancer patient

A Dorset charity has helped a young woman from Poole who has been diagnosed with cancer just five months after undergoing a liver transplant. 

Sophie Houghton-Hinks, a 20-year-old from Poole, has been given financial support from Dorset Cancer Care Foundation since the liver transplant and being diagnosed with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder. She has also lost her mother and is struggling with mortgage payments.

Sophie was 16 when diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis, an autoimmune disease. Eighteen months later she suffered liver failure and required a liver transplant.

Five months later, she received the news that her transplant procedure caused the cancer she currently has.

Debbie Granville from Dorset Cancer Care Foundation, was contacted by a friend of Sophie’s about her situation.

Debbie said: “She was extremely unlucky. She had dreams of becoming a nurse. Because of this danger of infection she can’t go on to train to be a nurse, she can’t enjoy a lot of the things that eighteen-year-old girls like to do and go out with her friends.”

Dorset Cancer Care Foundation has helped numerous times with Sophie’s financial situation.

Debbie said: “What people don’t realise is that the shock that you’ve got cancer is huge enough, but for the majority of families it also means financial struggles.”

The charity encourages people to help out with their High Five campaign, where people can donate £5 towards their grant fund. Money is then spent on the people who need financial support and money.

“Every little penny helps, and every penny goes to someone who needs it,” said Debbie.

Alternatively, you can donate online at www.dccf.co.uk.