Mom Needs Cancer Treatment

My mom, Caroline Zorad, was diagnosed with cancer at 39 years old in the Spring of 2017.  We thought the cancer was gone just before Christmas because a few weeks after she finished her treatments she had a clear CT scan. My mom underwent major surgery, several rounds of chemotherapy, and radiation. Initially, these treatments showed some signs of success, however, over time they proved to be unable to completely eradicate her cancer. Only days after her clear CT, mom was told a biopsy showed her cancer had spread. There is no more first-line, proven therapy that is covered by OHIP.  Currently, my mom is in desperate need of immunotherapy treatment to beat Stage IV cervical cancer. As a last resort, my mom learned of an immunotherapy drug, Keytruda (https://www.keytruda.com/). This drug is approved for use in the United States and Australia. However, in Canada, Keytruda is not covered by the government or private insurance.

With each treatment costing over $10,000, and multiple treatments required, this is going to be a challenging physical and emotional battle for my mom,. My mom has had one treatment and has already noticed improvement!

Prior to her diagnosis, my mom worked at Norfolk General Hospital as a medical radiation technologist. My mom was healthy and always proactive about her health. She is a single parent to my 11-year old sister and myself. My mom was diagnosed right before I graduated highschool. She is my only parent and has supported me my whole life. It is now my turn to do my best to support my mom.

Caroline is loved and needed by all of her family and friends. We desperately need our mother with us. My mom loves her life, and she has never given up hope. We will do whatever it takes to give my mom the opportunity to be as healthy and active as she was prior to her diagnosis. Please donate to help my strong, beautiful mother beat cancer and show others that they can too.