Back to page

Kerry's Cancer Treatment Fund

  • Waiting on Peter Mac for re-treatment decision

      15 April 2019

    Hi Givealittle Community. An update: Kerry's tumours are back and progressing. She's just had a couple of PET scans and we are waiting on the decision of the Peter Mac multidisciplinary committee meeting (MDM) whether another round of PRRT treatment is feasible. Kerry's cancer has progressed and she's had to start chemotherapy to try to start knocking it back. We are anticipating that she'll either go back for treatment in the very near future, or that she'll need to be on chemo for a couple of months and then be re-assessed with PET scans and the MDM at Peter Mac. In NZ, you are generally only allowed funded PET scans once a year, so if it's the latter, we'll need to fund those PET scans. There should be more information for you in about two weeks, but in the meantime, thanks for your care and concern, Kerry and her family are very grateful for the support and encouragement we've received from our generous donors to date.

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • So Far, So Good, but it's only a matter of time...

      23 August 2018

    Hi Community. Thanks again for your interest and support so far of Kerry's journey. Since our last update, Kerry has had two follow up appointments with her oncologist, and everybody has been surprised with her results of the PRRT treatment to date. Her last follow up scan was in June 2018, which was almost 7 months to the day since her last treatment, and the scan showed that the tumours showed slower but continued shrinkage. Kerry's case is unusual in many ways, from the extent and severity of tumours on diagnosis right through to her remarkable and continued response. However, we know it's only a matter of time before she will need another treatment, which past treatment data in cases similar to hers shows that it will likely need to be around the 9-month mark (basically, anytime now). Funds we've raised so far with Give-a-Little have been used towards treatment and travel costs, and those received since the last treatment are being held in a trust account for Kerry's next treatment. We've done some private fundraising outside Give-a-Little which has raised some funds, but in order to afford another treatment, we need to keep this page open and in front of people to get to Melbourne again. Please, forward this page to your friends, share it on all forms of social media that you have access to. Kerry welcomed granddaughter Aaliyah on 10 July, with one grandson arriving 23 August and the next grandson in late September. It's so precious that these babies will have their Nana as they enter this world, and your help and future treatments will, with luck, see their Nana present for their first birthday, too. Thanks for your time and well-wishes!

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Follow up and possible future treatment

      28 February 2018
    Main image

    Hi Community. First, thanks so much for your support. Kerry and her family are very grateful for the contributions to date, they've really helped. Kerry has now had 4 PRRT treatments, the last treatment being at the end of November. Dr. Grace Kong said that Kerry had had a "remarkable response" to the treatment. Right now her health seems to be doing well, despite some hiccups in her life. She now needs to return to Melbourne for follow up PET scans (2 scans that cost $1425 AUD each), which was supposed to be 6 and 7 March which we are having to postpone due to finances. Our family loans have run out and right now, we need to fundraise to send her back to Melbourne for the follow up and assessment of how effective the last treatment was, to and assess if re-treatment is required. This trip to Melbourne will cost approximately $5,000 NZD for Kerry and a companion/carer. We also need to fundraise an extra $4000 AUD, if possible, to pay off the outstanding Peter Mac "bed charge" of almost $1000 per treatment. They kind of forgot to include that on each treatment invoice, and the $4000 invoice was received right before Christmas and we haven't been able to pay them yet. As a family, we just can't afford to fund it ourselves any more. We would be incredibly grateful for any assistance that could be provided. Kerry's got a couple of new grandkids on the way, please help us ensure she's able to welcome them like only a Nana can! Thank you so much for considering a donation. Bless.

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Two treatments down, three to go

      13 September 2017

    Kerry has had two PRRT treatments and will need another three, but we are seeing progress! The post-treatment scans are showing that the tumours have stopped growing, and we are hoping for a long, slow shrinking process. There will be a total of five treatment sessions, they are every six weeks. Help to date has been gratefully appreciated, thank you!

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment