SUPPORT JILL ROBSON, AND THE ROBSON SPECHT FAMILY

In May 2024, after the onset of abdominal pain, several rounds of tests and exploratory surgery led to Jill Robson being diagnosed with Stage 3C ovarian cancer.

There is no accurate and reliable early detection test for ovarian cancer, and due to the nature of its symptoms, it is often already in advanced stages by the time it is detected, making it more difficult to treat and more likely to reoccur.

With the support of her dedicated husband and partner in crime, Brandon, their children Louis and Sunday, and her extended family, Jill worked with her oncological team to commence a frontline treatment regime of chemotherapy, surgery and more chemotherapy along with a range of allied health treatments to support her healing. Tests initially showed her cancer markers were moving in the right direction, but in December, her scans showed some additional growths and an active increase in her tumour markers.

Disappointed but not defeated, Jill enjoyed a peaceful and joyous Christmas with Brandon and the kids, before returning to a new treatment regime in January, including a new kind of chemotherapy and a targeted immunotherapy drug, Keytruda, that has shown promising results with later stage cancers for Jill’s particular genetic mutation. There have been tough days and weeks, but Jill has kept her positive outlook, and commitment to fighting the cancer throughout it all.

The last months have not only been taxing on Jill’s health, energy, and her and the family’s emotions, it has been costly too. Even with private health cover, there are many out of pocket costs and the immunotherapy treatment is not yet covered for Ovarian cancer under Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Jill has had to stop working to allow time for her treatments and recovery, and to ensure she is able to rest and give her body a chance to heal. Brandon has had to recently take more time off work to support Jill, and be there for the kids through this journey’s twists and turns.

It’s easy to feel helpless in these situations, and people often feel as though they don’t know what to say or do at these times. But we can help.

Your donations will help to cover some of the treatment costs and additional in-home support required for this next stage. Most importantly, any support will allow Brandon to step back from longer work hours to be home to focus on the family’s wellbeing.

Anyone who knows Jilly – and there are many of us – knows she is genuinely one of the kindest people in the world. She is a loving wife, a remarkable mother, and a loyal and dedicated friend. We have seen her gentle manner in practise, her ability to bring empathy to every conversation and interaction with others, and her peaceful way of just being in the world. She has a rare gift for making every person she meets feel seen and heard.

Jill would like to highlight the work of Ovarian Cancer Australia and encourage anyone with female reproductive parts to take time to read about the signs and symptoms to look out for: https://www.ovariancancer.net.au. And for everybody reading this, if you needed a reminder to book a check-up or scan or anything that has been on your mind, please don’t delay. Our health is everything.

Jill, Brandon and the kids have faced this journey with courage, hope, and a lot of love. Now let’s show our love for them at this most challenging of times. Every donation is appreciated. Let’s support our Jilly.