NOTE ON ENHERTU NEWS 17/9

My fund is still ACTIVE. I have seen this and really appreciate everyone's excitement, but the new Enhertu news does not affect me too much (there are some pros/ some cons). I was already eligible and had it last year, as I am HER2+ (not low). Their argument is still that I progressed on it, even though I was stable and progression free ON NOTHING for 6 months after!?! Fear not, when stronger (I just updated donor's that I am only just out of A&E), I will be fighting this non-sensical decision, as they even refused my oncologist's request. My eye doctor too wants me on a chemo that reaches the brain/eyes, or I could lose the vision in my right eye as well ad become totally blind. I believe I have a good case. If I can get any refund, I would use my finds for liver histotripsy in the USA and many other ideas I have not exhausted - that is what I had originally hoped to fundraise for. Thank you for your donations - you are all incredible

UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2026… HELP ONCE AGAIN, PLEASE.

It is over 2 years since we paused this fundraiser to help me through a stage 4 breast cancer diagnosis at the age of 46 (stage 2 at the age of 43) . It’s been quite emotional reading my original words further below...

I wrote that I cried when I saw a woman with a 9- or 10-year-old and I feared I would not live to see my own daughter Poppy reach that age… well, she is soon to turn 9!

How hard it has been, but how far we have come. I am still here – aiming for 50 next year, and beyond!

Since October 2023, I have had at least 4 more types of chemotherapy/targeted drugs almost constantly, my ovaries removed (to get rid of tumours there and reduce estrogen), targeted radiotherapy to my brain and eye tumours, a blood transfusion and photodynamic light therapy to my eyes twice. I am now totally blind in my left eye. I have fainted and been in A&E multiple times. Sometimes I have needed a wheelchair. I nearly died twice.

They gave me a few months to live back then; it is almost 3 years later. I do not have an expiry date and they under-estimate my will and determination to live! (Photo - May 2026 birthday)

I won’t lie - it is so often very hard, but I can still look after my daughter Poppy, and the two of us have many fun adventures together. I have friends, family, nature and joy in my life. This is despite having cancer currently in my brain, brain lining, eyes, bones, liver, lung lining and under my skin. People often find it hard to believe when they first meet me.

Now I please need your help again. I am learning how crazily restrictive the NHS is – even great oncologists are restricted by funding and what can be offered when. They even had to put me on one chemo that they knew wouldn’t work just so I could access the one that would!

The only NHS option now is giving me a chemo that is very toxic, destroys my immune system and won’t even reach my brain! It leads to hospice and the end…

But I always research… and I have my plan. I want to go back on Enhertu from last year, as it worked well for me for 4 months and continued to work for 6 months afterwards. (I had stopped due to serious lung issues on it, but the lung consultant has signed me off to go back on).

The co-pay model means I can continue to see my consultants and have scans, etc., on the NHS but I will need to pay for the life-saving Enhertu chemotherapy myself - that's approximately £7000 every 3 weeks.

I would like to carry on as long as it works, but even 7 or 8 cycles could gain me a year or more. In an ideal world, I’d also travel to the US to have histotripsy on my liver (mind-blowing technology that heals liver tumours with sound waves and no incisions!), but that’s over £35,000 for one treatment! The longer I hang on, the more new treatments can emerge…

I believe that magic can happen; that hope and vision can draw energy and momentum, the support of friends and strangers. I know that times are challenging for so many people – even if you can share this page and spread the word, I would be so grateful. Some friends are planning some sponsored events, and even the smallest act is a huge help.

THANK YOU! You’ve got me this far. If you are able to, please now help me to be there for Poppy's teenage years.

Follow my more regular updates on INSTA - @katherinebartonuk

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ORIGINAL FUNDRAISING BACKGROUND PAGE FROM 2023 (we had to transfer to this new page, as the tech has changed in the 2 years we paused it)

"There were heaving sobs when I found out my diagnosis. Utter shock.

Somehow I held it together, alone due to Covid restrictions. But then all I wanted was to get in a taxi, to hell with the cost, and to be home, to be alone with my grief. My fear.

Before all worries for others, I cried for myself, for what I will need to go through, for the strength I will need to find again. I cried for my youth – yes, vainly lamenting the likely loss of a breast. And harsh treatments that will no doubt age me and maybe cause me to lose my hair.

Unwanted images of my own funeral would appear. People said to stay positive. But at that early point in particular, the images would come unbidden.

The most emotional moments for me have been in relation to my daughter – will I be there for her? I have to be there for her. Going to a dance class, I hold back tears as I question if I’ll be able to take her during treatments. Will I be too tired? When she is a tantruming, demanding toddler, I worry how I will cope and find the energy? I see a mother and a 9 or 10-year old chatting merrily in the street and I want to cry – I want that, I want to be there for her for that."

(Excerpted from Katherine's diary, May 2021)

Katherine's battle with cancer began in April of 2021 with a lump in her breast, when her daughter Poppy was only three years old. That first fight lasted just over a year, and included:

- Over 60 trips to the hospital

- 4 surgeries

- 1 emergency surgery due to a cut artery, losing over 25% of her blood

- 8 high-dose fortnightly chemo sessions, plus 1 with an allergic reaction

- 15 radiotherapy sessions every weekday whilst having COVID

And all while continuing to work and to look after her three-year-old daughter, with all that entails.

Amazingly, having lost her hair, her breast and much of her health, Katherine was discharged in May of 2022, with only additional breast reconstruction surgery yet to come in January 2023.

The worst seemed to be past.

But then, in November 2023, seemingly out of nowhere the cancer had returned. This time it had metastasized to her spine, skull, pelvis, ribs, eye and possibly even the lining of the brain at an alarming rate. The diagnosis was Stage IV cancer, a terrible blow.

"Hi dear friends, how, where to start…? I suppose by simply telling you that my cancer has returned. It is news that I have been adjusting to since early-mid November. I had some sudden blurred vision in my left eye and, acting fast, we discovered that I had a tumour there.

This led to multiple body scans at the Royal Marsden in Sutton, which show that my breast cancer has decided to reappear in multiple bones (spine, skull, pelvis etc..). My actual brain is so far clear, although there are some early signs in my brain lining/fluid, which they are currently unsure about.

This is stage IV cancer, so the prognosis is not good and I was told I might have a few months to a couple of years left to live. It was a horrible, upsetting, terrible shock.

Since then, it has been a whirlwind of emotions, scans, medical appointments, a spinal lumbar puncture that caused pressure headaches that required me to lay flat 90% of the time for 5/6 days and saw me in A&E for 2 days to get it fixed.

This was all followed by 5 days of eye radiotherapy to hopefully restore my full vision (that’s the photo you can see).

During all of this there have been Mummy duties, Poppy’s 6th birthday and masterminding Christmas for her. So it’s honestly felt like a lot…"

So, this is where Katherine finds herself now: a single mother with a now 6-year old daughter, fighting literally for her life.

It will come as no surprise to anyone who knows Katherine well, that she isn't giving up. The NHS see this is as terminal prognosis: Katherine aims to prove them wrong, saying, "I REJECT THE WORD ‘INCURABLE’!’

As such, she is doing everything she can in terms of alternative treatments, therapies and diet in addition to her medical regime. Her integrative approach of chemotherapy, nutrition and additional private health treatments including IV drips and extra blood tests have already shown some promising results with her cancer cell numbers dropping, a fantastic step in the right direction. Research has long proved that a positive approach is associated with better medical outcomes, and as Katherine is the most positive person most of us know, we also believe that if anyone can beat the odds, she can.

But this is where we need your help. The financial implications of being a single mother battling a life-threatening cancer are now hitting hard.

Katherine is forever grateful for the expert care and help provided by the NHS, but the expenses associated with additional treatment, travel to and from hospital, and of course the normal bills and expenses of day-to-day life are now becoming unmanageable alone. From November to January the costs have amounted to £6,146, including blood tests, health supplements and the vital drips. Those costs are only going to continue this year.

Katherine was just trying to build up her work again post-birth, post-Covid, post-breast cancer when this second cancer blow struck, which means she has not had time to get ahead again financially and is now facing an even more difficult situation.

Katherine used up most of her savings during her first cancer episode to cover bills and expenses when she was unable to work as much. Being freelance makes this situation incredibly tough, as she has no access to private healthcare, paid sick leave, or a guaranteed monthly salary - things that many of us take for granted.

We, Katherine's friends, are now raising money to help her through this great challenge, so that she can spend more time with Poppy and hopefully see her grow up to be a young woman.

Any donations you are willing to make will go directly towards offsetting the financial impact of:

• Reduced working time for Katherine as she manages her energy to attend the multiple treatments and appointments, and deal with the side effects of the medication.

• Support with household bills and living costs due to reduced income.

• Extra blood tests, IV drips and health supplements

• Travel costs for regular hospital appointments and treatment sessions.

Katherine and Poppy would like to thank everyone for being so supportive during their time of need. While many have expressed a desire to donate funds, she also understands that we are still in a cost-of-living crisis and knows that there are many other ways to show love and support beyond the financial, which are no less important to her.

Whether you can donate or not, your support means everything.