Hi there, I’m Beau.

My little sister Jemma Andrew was diagnosed with breast cancer on September 24, 2021. She was only 35 years of age with a 5 year old son to think about. It has been a big shock for our whole family.

Her breast cancer is stage 3 and an aggressive form, triple negative which without treatment can grow quickly. Our mother Rebecca had the same form of breast cancer and unfortunately passed away from this disease in 2016. This really impacted Jem who was very close to our mother.

Jemma met with surgeons and oncologists in October 2021 and discovered she would need genetic testing due to a strong family history and her young age.

She has started 6 months of weekly chemotherapy with aggressive drugs Doxorubicin, Paclitaxel, Carboplatin.

She will need 16 cycles of 4 different drug regimes.

She has never been so sick in her life from these drugs and is often bedridden, has bone pain, nausea, her hair is falling out, and she can’t even drive her son to school some days because of the crippling fatigue and chemo brain. She puts on a brave face for her son James but she is really struggling on a day to day basis.

Following the chemotherapy she will need surgery, a possible mastectomy and then multiple rounds of radiation. It is such a long road fighting for her life this year and facing all of these medical challenges while also looking after a young son whom she adores and wants to be well supported.

She has tried the cold caps to stop her hair falling out but it is not working and she would like help to get a wig, which can be approx $2500.

Any help from friends and family both emotional & financially over the next year (2022) would be so much appreciated. There have been multiple out of pocket medical bills, scans, procedures, consults with specialists, medicines, hospital excesses to pay and Jem is only getting a small amount of income support from her super. It is not enough. Jem has a mortgage, bills and school fees for her son to continue paying while she goes through this battle.

Even if you can contribute $10 or $20 to help Jem through this year that would be so appreciated at this difficult time.

Jem was a hardworking social worker before her shock diagnosis. She had helped children in difficult circumstances for almost 13 years.

It’s now time to help Jem. We hope you can help in any way.

Thankyou so much! love from Jem’s family.

**Update**

Because Jem found out she has the BRCA1 gene , which increases the chances of a reoccurrence, she would like to try getting assistance for her cancer journey from the centre for new medicine, California. These consultations are extremely expensive at around $300 per consult & may involve  the need to travel to the US for some tests/ treatments. We are asking for any support to get flights, & cost of treatments over the next year or so.

She has her first surgery on May 11, then will likely need another surgery towards the end of the year. 

Please continue to support/ assist Jem if you can to reach her new goal of $25,000.