Support Karen and her family fight rare Breast Cancer

Support Karen and her family fight a rare Breast Cancer!

If you don’t know Karen, you are missing a shining light in your life - a loving wife to Nic, mum to 5 year old Felix, cherished daughter, daughter in law, sister, sister in law, aunty to 5 and a great friend to many…

An adventurous spirit, she and her then boyfriend Nic relocated their lives in 2010 from the sleepy English countryside to Beautiful B.C. They wanted a life in the great outdoors they both love - and they have made it! When not snowboarding or cycling in the mountains they’ve built successful working lives and started their own small business. They embraced their new community which was celebrated in style at their barn wedding in Pemberton, the town they now call home. The arrival of Felix in 2020 completed their story and cemented their Canadian lives.

But in late 2021 their happy home was ripped apart when Karen was diagnosed with a rare form of breast cancer when Felix was only 18 months old.

Karen had two different types of cancer simultaneously; one treatable, and one rare and difficult to manage. Treatment was complicated because the cancers required opposite drug approaches. She endured endless chemotherapy with resilience and strength and, despite Covid, was supported by family and friends.

Karen underwent a double mastectomy which indicated the cancer had only marginally reduced through drug treatment but not eradicated. Post surgery she moved onto heavier hitting chemotherapy drugs plus a targeted immune therapy drug.

Once this treatment was completed Karen was considered to be in remission and got on with her life with routine follow-ups. She felt great, looked fit and healthy and spent time back in the UK with family.

Unfortunately in late 2024, the cancer returned in the lymph nodes and skin near her breast tissue. Only one cancer was present but this time it was slightly different again. At no point in her journey has her diagnosis been textbook or routine. There hasn’t been direct research to reference and limited drug options to use. Her oncology team have had to consistently push the boundaries and think creatively requiring enormous bravery from Karen and her family.

Prior to surgery her oncologist once again embarked on a unique combination of traditional chemotherapy and four doses of a new immune therapy drug. Finally there was positive news as the surgery showed that the cancer had dramatically shrunk with only tiny amounts remaining. The tests showed the immune therapy drug was working. Finally a drug that worked.

The immune therapy has without question been the most impactful drug in her fight. However due to various bureaucratic policies and protocols she has been denied access to this immune therapy via healthcare for post surgery use - despite her oncologist (and the entire board of oncologists at BC cancer foundation) recommending her to undertake a further 13 doses in order to eradicate the cancer from her system once and for all. After many appeals with the oncologists pleading for compassionate access, shockingly, the answer has remained “NO”!

Her only option now is to privately fund.

We have to help her and the family -they cannot be a victim of the system when a positive end to their story is in sight.

The drug costs CAD $10,000 per dose so CAD $130,000 is required to fund the 13 doses. Her family have brilliantly committed to covering the first three and then it’s time for us all to help in any way we can.

Please help them raise the money. Anything you can give no matter how small is gratefully received.

She has a strong chance to be a positive statistic in the fight against cancer.

Please help it be so.