Anke Vorbau is fighting cancer: charity run in Dresden on June 18th!

Anke Vorbau is fighting cancer: charity run in Dresden on June 18th!

On June 15, 2025, a dedicated team led by Anke Vorbau and her family set out to take a stand against cancer. Anke, a 47-year-old mother of four children, received the frightening diagnosis of breast cancer in spring 2022. For the family, the circumstance came after initial complaints such as a lump in the breast and swollen lymph nodes. In the following months, Anke underwent chemotherapy, which was not only physically but also emotionally stressful. Side effects such as hair loss and swollen joints meant that Anke sometimes had to fight against everyday challenges.

In addition to chemotherapy, she received immunotherapy. This is intended to support the immune system in recognizing and fighting tumor cells. However, not everything that glitters is gold. The treatment can also attack healthy cells, which gave Anke thyroid dysfunction. In the end, she received a total of twelve infusions over twelve weeks before further doses were no longer possible due to significant side effects. As it turns out, it is important to react immediately when new symptoms appear. Early action is crucial in immunotherapies. Complaints such as diarrhea, abdominal pain and other reactions require special treatment strategies, as the krebseinfomationsdienst.de explains.

Setting an example for affected families

The Vorbau family, which also includes Anke's husband Daniel and their four children aged 15, 13, 7 and 4, faces major challenges. While Daniel provides the family financially, Anke relies on support and struggles to ensure stability and care for her children. During this stressful time, the family knows the importance of shared experiences in order to alleviate the difficult situation.

In order to draw attention to the topic of cancer, the Dresden Municipal Clinic, together with the German and Saxon Cancer Society, is organizing the “Running Against Cancer” charity campaign on June 18th. This event not only aims to raise money to support cancer patients and their families, but also to send a sign of hope. Anke and her family were invited to a relaxing weekend in Dresden to share special moments and distract themselves with activities such as a tour of the airport or a visit to the chocolate museum.

Living with cancer and its effects

One of Anke's central concerns is to share her story to encourage other affected families. Many people may not know that immunotherapy also presents challenges that can affect quality of life, as the Cancer Information Service reports. It is still unclear whether other complaints such as fatigue are directly caused by the treatment. However, those affected often report inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract or emotional stress in the form of anxiety and depression.

Over 90 percent of patients with immunotherapy say they can manage everyday tasks despite the restrictions. Even though there are many challenges, it is important to know that there are offers of help. Patients should not be afraid to discuss their symptoms during visits to the doctor, as these conversations can help make everyday life a little better.

The planned charity run on June 18th is an opportunity to send a visible signal that gives hope not only to those affected, but also to their relatives. It will be a day when the community comes together to show solidarity and support each other. Anke and her family are ready to share their story and hope to inspire many people.