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Cancer drug battle for Benalla mum

A young Victorian mother battling cancer is campaigning to access a promising melanoma drug that may save her life and allow her to watch her children grow up.

Mother-of-two Kate Wagner, of Benalla, was diagnosed with a brain tumour, just days after her son, Maclan, was born.

The overwhelming feelings of joy and pride at giving birth were mixed with heartbreak at the notion she may not live long enough to see him grow and develop.

The 33-year-old, who has since been diagnosed with malignant tumours in her lungs, had hoped to gain access to a new trial of the experimental melanoma drug PD-1, which has an 80 per cent survival rate.

To qualify for the trial, Ms Wagner had the single brain tumour removed and was told her brain needed to be clear of the disease before she was eligible.

Kate Wagner wants access to PD-1 drug to buy her time to watch her two children grow up. Photo: Supplied
Kate Wagner wants access to PD-1 drug to buy her time to watch her two children grow up. Photo: Supplied

However, a subsequent scan in October revealed another brain tumor, requiring further treatment.

In a devastating blow, the clinical trial closed in January, dashing Ms Wagner's hopes of accessing the potentially life-saving medication.

US patients have been granted access to the PD-1 drug on a compassionate basis, and now Ms Wagner wants the same access to the ground-breaking drug for Australian cancer sufferers.

Ms Wagner says she could be forced to wait at least another year for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee to subsidize and approve its use in Australia – time she does not have.

She is currently trialling Yervoy, a (PBS) approved drug with only a 20 per cent success rate, but she has vowed to put pressure on pharmaceutical companies to expand access to the wonder drug here in Australia.

"I am beginning to lobby my local MP to try and get this heard as I need this program to open in Australia," she said. "There is no reason why it shouldn't. This drug is saving peoples' lives."

Kate was diagnosed with a brain tumour just days after baby Maclan was born. Photo: Supplied
Kate was diagnosed with a brain tumour just days after baby Maclan was born. Photo: Supplied

In a desperate bid to access the drug, the Wagners have considered travelling to the US, but say just one consultation could cost up to $40,000 - money they do not have.

Ms Wagner's shock diagnosis has left her family under intense financial strain.

The young couple, who have been married for eight years, were in the midst of renovating their family home when Ms Wagner was diagnosed - a project likely to cost at least $55,000.

Her devoted husband, Richard, was forced to give up work indefinitely to care for their two young children and Ms Wagner had no choice but to abandon her promising cake baking business.

Kate was forced to give up her successful cake baking business after becoming ill. Photo: Supplied
Kate was forced to give up her successful cake baking business after becoming ill. Photo: Supplied


As Ms Wagner fights to conquer her devastating illness, she is also in the battle of her life to secure her family's future.

"I have a wish to see my home renovation complete as it's my biggest worry and pain when I imagine no longer being with my family - picturing where they will be and where my kids will be playing.

"After I returned from the first brain op, I asked Richard to keep working on our house renovation. We spent the last money on decking timber.

"It may sound trite and stupidly ridiculous to others, but all I could concentrate on in those early days was seeing where my family was going to be after I was gone."

Kate wants to see her half-complete home fully renovated for her family. Photo: Supplied
Kate wants to see her half-complete home fully renovated for her family. Photo: Supplied

"I couldn't bear the thought of not seeing where they were. The thought still makes me fraught with panic, of not being able to picture where my children are playing, where my husband is showering, where they will sit to dinner, where they will play all the board games that I planned to whip their butts at, where my kids will sit alone in their rooms looking at pictures of me.

"I want to see plants in my barren backyard. I want a shed for my husband to tinker.

"I want the third bedroom, which is currently a storeroom, carpeted and turned into a bedroom for my little girl. A room I can make special just for her, a room her mum made for her. I guess I want too many things.

"I just thought there would be time."

The Wagner family had started home renovations when Kate fell ill. Photo: Supplied
The Wagner family had started home renovations when Kate fell ill. Photo: Supplied

Several groups have stepped up to ease the financial burden of the illness, including a local trust, a mothers' group and a global baking network.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health said it is at the discretion of clinicians to expand access to the drug.

"This drug is in clinical trials in Australia but it is up to the clinicians involved in the trials to recruit patients and to offer the drug," the department said in a statement.

"The government cannot intervene in this process."

To help Ms Wagner's cause, use the payment methods below.


  • Donations direct to the Wagner family via PayPal: richard.kate.wagner@gmail.com

  • To donate via bank transfer: Acc name: Kate Wagner BSB: 733 209 ACC: 505411

  • Donations of services/trades contact Peter (0417 406 657) or Julie (0427 952 024) from the Benalla Trust Foundation.