Helping Craig Lucanus

Helping Craig Lucanus Access Life-Saving Targeted Therapy 

Meet our Father, Craig, a much-loved schoolteacher from Perth. Our dad has dedicated his entire life to teaching and mentoring others to care deeply about the world around them. He has helped thousands of students over his career who have moved on to become productive members of society - many of whom have saved countless lives themselves through their professions. Today, we find ourselves needing to save his.

We find ourselves writing words we never imagined: our dad has a rare and aggressive cancer, and he needs urgent help to access the treatment that can keep him alive.

In late 2024, Dad was rushed to hospital with pancreatitis. Scans revealed a large mass in his pancreas. Despite our repeated pleas that time was critical, it took a devastatingly long period of three months to confirm the diagnosis and perform surgery. This was largely because, due to the rarity of the cancer, the medical team misunderstood the urgency of removing it.

The diagnosis came as a shock: Dad has Pancreatic Acinar Cell Carcinoma (PACC), a rare subtype responsible for only about 1 percent of all pancreatic cancers. Since pancreatic cancer itself makes up just 3 percent of all cancers in Australia, only around 40–50 Australians each year receive this devastating diagnosis.

By the time surgery was finally performed, the cancer had already spread to his liver and his prognosis was suddenly reduced: Dad was told he had just 12 months to live.

A Remarkable Response to Chemotherapy

Remarkably, chemotherapy has brought our family and his medical team a small and unexpected miracle – his tumours have shrunk dramatically with chemotherapy, and he is currently responding very well.

However, Dad’s oncologists have told us that his body can only tolerate chemotherapy for so long. The next step – and the best hope to keep this response going – is to move to a type of targeted therapy with less side effects called a “PARP inhibitor”, with a drug called Rucaparib. This is a targeted therapy designed for patients like him who carry the BRCA2 “cancer gene”.

There is a very real opportunity that with Rucaparib, Dad could live for many more years. In fact, a patient in the United States with the same rare cancer type, identical BRCA2 mutation, and liver metastases has now been living more than a decade thanks to continuous treatment with Rucaparib. His remarkable story of survival and hope can be read here, under “stageivsurvivor”: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/1059508/ 

The Challenge: Prohibitive Treatment Costs

However, there’s one heartbreaking obstacle: Rucaparib comes at an unaffordable cost. Rucaparib isn’t PBS-subsidised for this rare cancer, leaving it priced at roughly $5,400 per month in Australia. For a retired teacher, that’s far beyond reach. This is a common issue for people with rare cancers who are often neglected by the PBS. 

Alongside Rucaparib, Dad has also been approved for a personalised neoantigen peptide cancer vaccine - a breakthrough therapy tailored specifically to his unique tumour mutations. This custom-made vaccine, priced at $92,000, is designed to train his immune system to recognise and attack his own cancer cells, helping to prevent recurrence and extend his life.

This therapy represents the future of cancer medicine, and because these vaccines are still emerging, early patients like Dad play a pivotal role: their participation helps pave the way for broader access and cost reductions worldwide. By supporting Dad, you’re not only helping him - you’re helping accelerate access to this next generation of cancer care for others who will follow.

Our Goal and Your Impact

We’re launching this campaign to help bridge Dad onto his therapies, to give him the time and quality of life he so deserves. Every donation directly funds his treatment:

Your donations will go directly toward:

• Rucaparib supply: ~$5,400 per month
• Personalized Neoantigen Peptide Vaccine: $92,000
• Essential medical costs related to treatment, labs, and consultations

Every donation matters: 

• $180 = one day of Rucaparib
• $1,260 = one week
• $5,400 = one month

Our immediate goal is to raise $124,400 – enough for six months of treatment and vaccine – with a stretch goal of $156,800 for a full year.

All donations are tax-deductible and administered transparently through Rare Cancers Australia

This fundraising campaign is administered by Rare Cancers Australia (RCA), a registered Australian charity and Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR). This means that all donations of $2 or more are tax-deductible in Australia. All funds raised through Dad’s supporter page are donations made directly to Rare Cancers Australia (RCA) and are used in accordance with RCA’s charitable purpose to support Australians living with rare and less common cancers.

The Man Behind the Story

Dad has always lived simply, with quiet humour and unshakable kindness. Even now, during chemotherapy, he still checks in on former students and sends emails to colleagues to help them with their classes. It’s just who he is.

Dad has spent his life shaping the futures of thousands of students; now we’re asking for a chance to help shape his. Your kindness can give him more time for simple joys – a walk with Mum, a Sunday crossword, and the chance to meet his future grandchildren.

Our commitment to updates

We’ll post short updates at key milestones: when we lock in the first supply, first dose, and after each scan cycle.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for reading, sharing, and supporting.

With gratitude,

Lucanus Family