A GoFundMe page has been started to help Canberra mum of two, 36-year-old Keely, access a potentially life-saving drug for cancer treatment that will cost tens of thousands of dollars as it’s not covered by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

As of this morning (Thursday 8 February), the ‘Help Keely beat the odds!!!” page has already raised $49,498 from 327 donations, exceeding its $40,000 target.

When in her mid-20s, Keely was diagnosed with BRCA1 mutation, meaning that she was more prone to developing breast cancer. 

Given this, she underwent regular scans and check-ups, and while heavily pregnant with her second child, she found a lump. She gave birth at 35 weeks to her second daughter, Tottie, and she was then diagnosed with stage 3 triple negative breast cancer. 

Keely then underwent 16 rounds of chemotherapy and 15 rounds of radiation, before being declared cancer free in June 2023. Then in January, she was told that the headaches and other symptoms she was experiencing, was brain mestatsis and this was incurable. 

Since then, a GoFundMe page has been started: “Keely will soon undergo brain radiation aimed at treating her current tumours. From there, with the aim to slow any progression for as long as possible, Keely will require a drug called Lynparza .This drug has been shown to be the most successful for those with BRCA1 mutation, and yet is not funded on PBS.”

The organiser added: “To give her family hope, she is required by the drug company (who make Lynparza) to self-fund the first six months of treatment at a cost of $38,000! After which time they will subsidise the next six months.”

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