TRIBUTES have been paid to brave Cofton Hackett mum Katy Dawson who has lost her battle against the aggressive form of breast cancer she fought for nearly two-and-a-half years.
Katy passed away last Wednesday and after the news was announced on the ‘Katy’s Breast Cancer Fundraiser’ Facebook page, more than 1,200 people reacted to the story and hundreds sent their condolences.
Katy’s sister Sarah said: “Katy was such a wonderful, kind and fun-loving person and will be missed by many.
“She fought with everything she had for the past two-and-a-half years.”
In the Facebook comments she was described as an ‘inspiration’ who ‘had an impact on so many people’.
Another stated: “You have fought like a warrior. With the selflessness of a hero you have raised awareness of this cruel disease.”
Others shared their fond memories and photographs of Katy.
Sarah thanked everyone for their very touching comments.
“Katy has such amazing friends and supporters and I know she was so grateful to everyone who helped her, fundraising and donating for her treatment (which undoubtedly gave her more time with her babies), helping with the kids, moral support for all of us, too much to mention.”
In 2016 Katy was diagnosed with the triple negative tumours – an extremely rare form which only occurs in 15 per cent of cases.
She was just 36 years old and was 35 weeks pregnant.
Katy underwent a mastectomy just two weeks before her due date and Evan was born a healthy 8lbs 4oz.
Unfortunately another larger tumour which indicated the cancer was trying to spread throughout the rest of her body and attack her major organs.
Then in June 2016 a campaign was launched by Katy’s friends, initially to raise £50,000 so she could go to Germany for specialist immunotherapy treatment.
Katy was desperate to ensure she would be there for son Evan, two, and daughter Aurelia, six, and often spoke of her worst fears that the disease would leave them without their mum.
Within weeks more than 750 donations had been made on Katy’s fund-raising site, successfully collecting two thirds of the target amount and she was able to go to Germany.
In September the anticipated overall cost of the trips and treatment rose to £150,000 but undeterred, Katy’s friends, family and the public continued the fund-raising and in December she responded well with tests showing that the ‘circulating tumour cells had halved’.
In February 2017 results showed the circulating tumour cells had increased significantly.
Katy’s treatment continued throughout 2017 with her going to Germany every two to three months. Each trip cost £25,000 and she was also having chemotherapy and radiotherapy in a bid to beat the cancer.
But in October the cancer had spread to her neck and Katy conceded that it was ‘no longer about cure but keeping the cancer at bay for as long as possible’.
The lumps in her neck had worsened by January and in March test results revealed the cancer had spread to her lungs as well as her chest.
Katy continued her brave fight but passed away last week.
