Woman with terminal leukaemia seeks £500,000 treatment abroad, says leaving identical twin sister is 'unthinkable'
Caitlin Leggett, 24, has been given six months to live after her leukaemia returned for the third time despite chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant. She is raising £500,000 for potentially curative treatment abroad, likely in the US, as UK treatment options are unlikely to be curative. The case highlights the emotional toll of terminal illness on close family relationships and the financial barriers to accessing experimental cancer treatments.
Caitlin Leggett, an identical twin, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) in March 2025 after developing an unusual rash. She initially achieved remission through chemotherapy and underwent a stem cell transplant, but the cancer returned twice more—in August 2025 and again in May 2026—despite additional treatments including a clinical trial using menin inhibitors and full-body radiotherapy. Doctors have given her six months to live and indicated that available UK treatments are unlikely to be curative, prompting her to pursue experimental treatment abroad at an estimated cost of £500,000. Caitlin and her sister Grace, who only discovered they were identical twins during Caitlin's diagnosis, are now fundraising for this treatment. Grace has quit her job and moved back to Cardiff to support her sister, and both have expressed the emotional difficulty of facing the possibility of separation.
What's missing
The article does not specify which experimental treatments or clinical trials are available abroad that are not available in the UK, nor does it explain the regulatory or medical reasons why certain treatments may not be accessible through the NHS. Additionally, there is limited discussion of the success rates or evidence base for the £500,000 treatment being pursued.
How coverage differed
The BBC's coverage emphasizes the human emotional dimension and the sisters' bond, presenting this as a personal story of resilience and family connection. The framing focuses on the 'unthinkable' nature of separation rather than critiquing healthcare systems or treatment availability, which reflects BBC's approach to balancing human interest with neutral reporting.
What different sources said
- BBC Top StoriesCenter
Identical twin given six months to live says leaving sister is 'unthinkable'
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