Hey Cancer, you won’t beat Mary! Better watch out

Hello World, meet Mary Keefe. If you have met her, you already love her. If you haven’t, you should. Mary is a loving single mother, a dedicated health-care colleague, a loyal friend, a selfless sibling, and a fiery protector of animals. Mary's natural way of conveying calm and well-being, with a touch of unexpected humor, to anyone lucky enough to look into her blue eyes. Are you better off for knowing her? Absolutely. Unfortunately, even with all these iron-clad attributes, cancer found its way to Mary.

On Sept. 7, 2022, Mary was diagnosed with nasal mucosal melanoma (NMM). What she thought was a benign nasal polyp turned out to be a rare, advanced, aggressive cancer. NMM is so rare that major cancer centers report they see about one case per year; in the USA, NMM accounts for less than 1% of all melanomas. This insidious disease is not to be confused with cutaneous (skin) melanoma; because of its rarity, NMM has few options for treatment, and the location of the nasal cavity and surrounding affected areas make surgery impossible and radiation a challenge.

Due to the advanced spread of Mary’s NMM on her skull base, optic nerves and carotid arteries, time is not her friend. Her team of doctors at Mass General Hospital in Boston are working at record speed to get treatment started. This will include some form of radiation (most likely proton) in conjunction with combined Immunotherapies. Because of the complex combination of treatments, Mary will have to relocate to Boston for months at a time. This presents a whole level of financial challenges we would like to eliminate so Mary can focus on regaining her health.

Your generous contribution, in any amount, will go towards lodging in Boston, Uber rides, food, public transportation, and any medical expenses not covered by insurance. Mary is 66 years old and still works hard to make ends meet. Due to her rigorous treatment schedule, she will not be able to work, which creates a financial burden. A donation of any size will be highly valued and greatly appreciated.

And wait for the day Mary looks you in the eye and thanks you herself. It will all be worth it.