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Helping Kathryn Berecic

By Kathryn Berecic

Kat is a 33 year old who's gone through unimaginable pain and grief over the past 2 years...

Kat is a 33 year old who's gone through unimaginable pain and grief over the past 2 years.

From what started as a fairly routine removal of her appendix due to appendicitis, soon became very serious with the diagnosis of stage 4 cancer which had spread to several of her organs. She's endured two major surgeries of up to 14 hours each, both of which included having a heated chemotherapy poured directly into her abdomen, and has just finished her 20th round of systemic chemo.

Given her cancer is so rare, she's left with few treatment options in Australia to help her battle this aggressive disease. Kat's a fighter who refuses to give up and has spent months researching treatment options overseas. After many discussions with doctors in Australia and around the world, Kat and her family have decided that the safest and most promising treatment at this time is Adoptive Cell Therapy, which is a form of personalised immunotherapy made with your own blood. It involves directly isolating the immune and natural killer cells, activating them and vastly expanding their numbers. These cells are then reintroduced into the body through a series of injections and infusions to significantly boost her body’s capacity to fight against the cancer. As many of her doctors have put it, this is the future of cancer treatment.

As this treatment is not available to Kat in Australia, it involves traveling to Japan a few times a year for ongoing treatment. Given how personalised the treatment is, it comes at a very high cost. The first set of infusions and injections is around $50,000, whilst ongoing treatment is expected to cost in the hundreds of thousands, and she simply can’t do this alone.

It hasn't been an easy road. Kat's had to give up her job as a Prep teacher, her home and her dream of starting a family, but this new treatment gives her hope that there's better days ahead and she can one day fulfil her hopes and dreams.

Supporting Kat by donating to her cause could mean the different between life and death for this young woman who's been to hell and back twice and has so much more life left to live.

Please Help Me
Reach My Goal

Raised

$7,154

My Goal

$250,000

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My Updates

Friday 2nd May
I’m Kat, 35 years old, and I’m fighting the hardest fight of my life – a very rare, stage 4 appendix cancer that will soon kill me if I don’t take immediate and drastic action.
 
Sadly, treatment in Australia is limited for my type of cancer, forcing me to search for more progressive and promising options overseas. After months of research, I’ve discovered some groundbreaking new technologies that look extremely promising, especially when performed in a sequence.
 
These treatments have a very real chance of saving my life, but come at a SIGNIFICANT cost. I’m reaching out with all the strength, courage and vulnerability that I have to ask for your help.
 
I’ve endured multiple lengthy surgeries, well over 100 rounds of chemotherapy and successful adoptive cell therapy in Japan that kept me stable for almost 2 years. Throughout the second half of 2024, my cancer began spreading again and I returned to Sydney in January for another gruelling 12 hour surgery. Whilst it wasn’t as successful as my previous surgeries due to some hard to reach tumours, I had a truly extraordinary recovery. To the shock of my treating doctors, I achieved my impossible goal of leaving hospital within a week and have come to realise that my will to fight and live has given me a type of strength that allows my body to withstand the most torturous of situations.
 
Whilst I feel well right now, my cancer has recently progressed and without these new treatments, I likely won’t make it to Christmas.
 
At the point of desperation, I’ve recently begun self-funding an immunotherapy drug at a cost of $3000 every 3 weeks – one that is PBS funded for many common cancers, but not rare cancers such as mine. I hope that this drug will help slow down my progression.
 
In consultation with many top doctors and researchers around the world, we’ve come up with a plan that could add years to my life, or maybe even grant me a miracle. According to them, there is real hope in combining these three overseas therapies:
 
1. Histotripsy is a seriously significant breakthrough in cancer treatment and after being approved by the FDA in 2023, it’s not widely available yet but is gaining traction due to its 80-90% response rate. USA’s Dr Kevin Burns, a leading interventional radiologist in histotripsy, is confident he can successfully eradicate the very dangerous and stubborn liver tumour encircling my arteries.
2. T.A.C.E. is a targeted treatment that delivers chemo directly into a tumour to kill or stop it from growing. While a much less advanced version exists here in Australia, Professor Vogl’s unique protocol offers far superior success rates, and my doctors here have strongly suggested I pursue his treatment. It’s brutal and will require a few trips to Germany, but could completely clear the remaining tumours in my liver.
3. Dendritic cell therapy has progressed significantly since my treatment in Japan. Some doctors are now using tumour tissue directly from the body to teach the dendritic cells what to search for and destroy when they’re reintroduced into the body. This therapy was fast-tracked through clinical trials in the U.S. due to remarkable response rates and could be the key to halting or completely eliminating my disease.
 
My life has well and truly been extended thanks to the generous donations I’ve received in the past, and there are no words to describe my immense gratitude for that. But I’m asking now with all the hope in my heart that you might be able to help again with the absolutely impossible mission of raising $250,000. I’m well aware of how ridiculous this is, and trust me – it comes with a lot of shame. But I’m on my hands and knees, begging, for you to help me in any way that you can.
 
Here’s how you can make a difference:
Donate: Every dollar brings me closer to treatment.
Share: Post this message. Tag friends, influencers, and media.
Connect: Know a business who can help? Please introduce us.
Travel Support: Donating Qantas points can help me reach these life-saving clinics.
Raise Awareness: Talk about histotripsy, T.A.C.E., and dendritic cell therapy - so others in need can benefit, too.
 
You can reach me directly at katsfight@hotmail.com and I’ll be posting updates on Instagram @katberecic.
 
Thank you for believing my life is worth saving. Your kindness could grant me more time, more memories, and maybe even a miracle.

With all my love,
Kat 

Thank you to my Sponsors

$100

Sandra Steble

A huge bow to your determination and courage

$263.75

Rob Crossman

Good luck Kat.

$27.81

Anonymous

Dear Kat wishing you every success with your treatment ! Love from an appendix cancer patient xx❤️

$54.12

Shane

$25

Leng Lim

Wishing you all the best ❤️

$417.20

Marie Ross

Love you Kat. Xx

$211

Gray Family

$106.12

Jill Ford

Sending love

$106.12

Tchivilev Family

$106.12

Catherine Radburnd

$106.12

Chelsea De Vos

$27.81

Surf Coast Glazing

$54.12

Cherie

Sending strength and blessing your way xx

$106.12

Hamish Dobbin

$106.12

Ilana Beitner

Sending love and positivity your way Kat xx

$22.58

Anonymous

$54.12

Catherine Popowycz

$27.81

Anonymous

Wishing you all the best

$27.81

Orlando Oliva

Good luck Kathryn

$100

Rose Nguyen

$25

Anonymous

$40

Louise Bourke

$106.12

Anonymous

$27.81

Anonymous

$11.65

Anonymous

$100

Martey Quaye

$20

Debbie Prince

$20

Trish Peacock

$50

Jessica K Preston

Best wishes on your treatment journey in Japan. ❤️

$10

Anonymous

$50

Anonymous

$20

Diane Nash

Sending strength and health. Best wishing and keep fighting

$25

Bronwyn White

Hoping this helps brings the healing you deserve x

$100

Anonymous

$200

Suzanne Betro

$100

Vicki Howson

I hope and pray your treatment in Japan eradicates the beast once and for all 🙏

$50

Bronwyn White

Wishing you the very best xx

$25

Amanda Anderson

Wishing you all the best

$200

Suzanne Betro

$100

Louise Elliot

$100

Mick Bendor

Best wishes for effective treatment.

$20

Anonymous

I am sorry you’re going through this and I’ll keep you in my thoughts.

$50

Anonymous

Hope the stars align for you. ⭐️

$50

Anonymous

$500

Rob Crossman

Good luck Kat. I hope this works for you.

$200

Julie Mccrossin

Wishing you all the best for your treatment.

$50

Vinci Delavega

Good luck! Stay strong

$100

Nejla Ghaboosi

$100

Ghada Merry

I wish you can reach the amount and go get the treatment and kick this nasty cancer’s ass Kat ❤️

$50

Rafael Gryszczenko Andreollo

Wishing for the best on your treatment, stay strong.

$100

Sandra Steble

$5

Anonymous

$500

Jackie Kwan

Read your story via RCA. Sending you some love and light from Singapore. Stay Strong Kathryn!

$200

Emine Tekin

Hang in there… sending prayers and positive energy your way…

$30

Danielle Mcmillan

Keep fighting Kathryn. Sending warm hugs 🤗

$20

Anonymous

$20

Katie Elderton

Sending love and prayers Kathryn. My mother recently had stage 3 appendix cancer and had a very similar procedure. You are incredibly strong and brave! Wishing you the very best xx ❤️

$50

Janice Lewis

Keep fighting brave warrior ..sending love and light 💖

$100

Jack Mckenzie

Sending you so much hope for the treatments in Japan, Kathryn. I can only imagine the roller coaster you have been on. Be assured of my thoughts and prayers.

$20

Anonymous

$25

Bronwyn White

Keeping you in my thoughts xx

$20

Anonymous

Wish you all the luck

$20

Anonymous

$100

Paul Brooke

As a survivor of metastatic cancer myself, I know how important hope is. Good luck. I hope the for the best outcome for you.

$50

Jessica K Preston

Best wishes on your recovery. ❤️‍🩹

$20

Anonymous

$50

Anonymous

$10

Anonymous

$25

Anonymous

Best wishes from one of many strangers who care about you. Keep fighting XXx

$100

Alison Kokkinos

Thinking of you Kat xx

$50

Anonymous

$5

Anonymous

$50

Lauren Borg

Sending you lots of love Kat!

$100

Anonymous

$50

Anonymous

You’re doing such an amazing work, well done. Your a true warrior, keep up the tug, we’re behind you…Much respect ✊🏽 ❤️☺️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

$50

Koray Koksal

I read your story via RCA. I hope you're able to access the treatment you need

$100

Anonymous

$50

Anonymous

Healing prayers Kat from another appendix cancer patient . 🙏

$250

Richard And Kate Vines

With our very best wishes. Stay strong.

$100

Fergus Bell

$100

Jane Tunstall

I’m a cancer survivor and strongly wishing the same for you. Strength and love from a Qld teacher!

$50

Chandana Edirisinghe

hope you will get better soon

$50

Anonymous

$30

Anonymous

$2

Anonymous

$2

Paul Torres

$100

Butterfield Family