When Kerri was given the grim news her cancer had returned, and was now terminal, she took her healthcare team’s advice – take the trips!
She’s since cruised in Mexico and visited Chichen Itza with her partner Timothy, and spent five weeks in Italy and Greece with her friend Rhi, fitting travel around her chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
While in Italy late last year, scrolling through her social media, Kerri came across a post from Rare Cancers Australia about the Kosi Challenge.
“I decided that was a great goal, and signed up as soon as registration opened,” Kerri said.
“I was an avid dragon boat paddler, paddling four times a week, gym sessions at least three times a week, and when I was first diagnosed at the start of 2023 I was about to head to my first State Championship, only to be sidelined to ensure I did no further damage until surgery.
“Having another health and fitness challenge that would also raise awareness and hopefully reduce the sense of loneliness and isolation for at least one other person was critical for me!”
Kerri’s cancer diagnosis came about by chance early in 2023, when low iron levels stopped her from being able to make her regular blood donation.
“Thankfully I have found the most amazing and dedicated GP who sent me to multiple tests and scans and before I knew it, I was meeting surgical teams, a cancer nurse and I was in hospital for surgery to remove my gallbladder and another two weeks later, in surgery again to remove 10cm of my liver, to be sure!” she said.
She spent the remainder of 2023 on oral chemotherapy, and her ongoing scans remained clear.
But in January 2024, Kerri started to feel some pain in her right side, and scans found the cancer was back. Surgery was not an option this time, and Kerri was told her cancer was terminal, with a very short prognosis.
Kerri started chemotherapy again and immunotherapy, and said her latest scans are showing “complete treatment response”.
But when she was first diagnosed, Kerri had never even heard of gallbladder cancer.
“I remember researching what I could find about gallbladder cancer, and finding not much at all,” Kerri said.
“Isolated and lonely with very little information to tap into, was how I felt.
“My amazing oncologist recommended I look up RCA and their various support groups, which I did and was surprised to receive a wonderful care pack after registering – I thought wow, there is support out there for me!
“And to attract donations – well that is just humbling,” she said.
Kerri, her partner and his son have registered to climb Mt Kosciuszko as a team and can’t wait for the experience.
“I can’t wait to take on the climb even if the boys leave me behind,” Kerri said.
“But to walk and climb the summit with other survivors, those currently undergoing treatment and those multitude of supporters, I am sure the atmosphere will be electric and inspiring.
“On our own we are isolated, lonely and rare, but together we ROAR.”
She’s since cruised in Mexico and visited Chichen Itza with her partner Timothy, and spent five weeks in Italy and Greece with her friend Rhi, fitting travel around her chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
While in Italy late last year, scrolling through her social media, Kerri came across a post from Rare Cancers Australia about the Kosi Challenge.
“I decided that was a great goal, and signed up as soon as registration opened,” Kerri said.
“I was an avid dragon boat paddler, paddling four times a week, gym sessions at least three times a week, and when I was first diagnosed at the start of 2023 I was about to head to my first State Championship, only to be sidelined to ensure I did no further damage until surgery.
“Having another health and fitness challenge that would also raise awareness and hopefully reduce the sense of loneliness and isolation for at least one other person was critical for me!”
Kerri’s cancer diagnosis came about by chance early in 2023, when low iron levels stopped her from being able to make her regular blood donation.
“Thankfully I have found the most amazing and dedicated GP who sent me to multiple tests and scans and before I knew it, I was meeting surgical teams, a cancer nurse and I was in hospital for surgery to remove my gallbladder and another two weeks later, in surgery again to remove 10cm of my liver, to be sure!” she said.
She spent the remainder of 2023 on oral chemotherapy, and her ongoing scans remained clear.
But in January 2024, Kerri started to feel some pain in her right side, and scans found the cancer was back. Surgery was not an option this time, and Kerri was told her cancer was terminal, with a very short prognosis.
Kerri started chemotherapy again and immunotherapy, and said her latest scans are showing “complete treatment response”.
But when she was first diagnosed, Kerri had never even heard of gallbladder cancer.
“I remember researching what I could find about gallbladder cancer, and finding not much at all,” Kerri said.
“Isolated and lonely with very little information to tap into, was how I felt.
“My amazing oncologist recommended I look up RCA and their various support groups, which I did and was surprised to receive a wonderful care pack after registering – I thought wow, there is support out there for me!
“This opened up a whole new world of pathways for me to research, a support network, expanded the opportunities for clinical trial links and a sense that there is care that is specific to rare.”
Now counting down to her first Kosi Challenge, Kerri has started to share a little more of her story, hoping to raise awareness that might make a difference to others facing a similar experience.“And to attract donations – well that is just humbling,” she said.
Kerri, her partner and his son have registered to climb Mt Kosciuszko as a team and can’t wait for the experience.
“I can’t wait to take on the climb even if the boys leave me behind,” Kerri said.
“But to walk and climb the summit with other survivors, those currently undergoing treatment and those multitude of supporters, I am sure the atmosphere will be electric and inspiring.
“On our own we are isolated, lonely and rare, but together we ROAR.”
