Mum-of-two Angel Madu in final bid to cure cancer or this may be her last Christmas

A mother who thought a lump in her breast was caused by breastfeeding, fears she is facing her last Christmas with her family after being diagnosed with terminal cancer. Nurse Angel Madu said she was “healthy as a horse” when she started experiencing discomfort in her chest in December 2022.

Having assumed the pain was from breastfeeding her son, or stress at work, she visited her GP when the symptoms remained after a few weeks, when she was referred to a breast clinic as a precaution. Later that week, mum-of-two Angel, of Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, received a diagnosis of stage two breast cancer, and she underwent surgery and chemotherapy.

In 2024, she was told the cancer had spread to her liver, lungs, bones, and lymph nodes, and had progressed to stage four cancer. After undergoing all available treatment, she was then given the devastating news there were no further options, and told she had just days to weeks left to live.

"Something in me just said ‘go check it out’," she said on finding the lump. "I didn’t think much of it, and neither did the consultant, we just thought it was from breastfeeding my son. I wasn’t expecting it because I am as fit as a horse. I never fall sick. I pay a lot of attention to my health and diet. I am the type of person who will pick up food and read the label."

Now, she is facing the stark reality that this will be her last Christmas with her family, and said: “How do you comprehend being told you are going to die? My fear is leaving my beautiful children without a mother.

“It was a shock. I am trying to be positive and focus on the hope as I still have breath. Every day is a blessing. I am not giving up on the fight.”

This week, Angel will travel to Mexico for a specialised cancer treatment plan as her last hope to try and fight back. However, the year-long treatment costs £75,000 and must start immediately if Angel is to stand a chance of survival.

A fundraiser set up by her church has already raised more than £30,000, but the nurse has taken a huge leap of faith that the rest of the money will come in time. Angel and husband Henry Okoye, 40, are leaving their two children aged four and eight with family in the hope they will be able to return with positive news.

“Finding out about this treatment really gave my family hope to pick up and fight again," Angel went on. “Our finances have taken a big hit since 2023 with me unable to work. It has really been a lot, so we didn’t know how we would ever raise enough money to pursue this hope.

“We were lucky to get a space for this year, but the only downside is that you have to pay everything before they start. That is where the urgency and desperation lies right now.

“It blows my mind the number of people that I don’t even know who have donated. It is overwhelming to see. I can’t even put it into words. I am so grateful to everyone. We have taken a leap of faith.”

Gemma Gardener, 44, from Angel’s church, organised the fundraiser and said she will do anything she can to save the selfless nurse, who worked the frontlines during Covid-19. “She is not ready to give up. She is only 39, it is just so soon. She has so much life to live," said Gemma.

“She is a nurse of 15 years, so she is always helping everyone. It took her a while to tell us because she is not used to being the one in need of help, she is the helper. She is just one of the most giving, selfless people I know. She is incredible. She was frontline in Covid-19.

“She has booked plane tickets to Mexico in faith, not knowing if she will be able to afford the treatment. She is giving up potentially her last Christmas with her kids for this treatment. She is someone that everybody loves. My heart just breaks for them. She has given so much to the world, and it is time that the world gives something back.”

For more details, and to donate to the fundraiser, visit the GoFundMe page.