Rob Fielder and his wife Erica moved to Newnham in 2022, hopeful for a fresh start in their new dream home. But soon after relocating, Rob began losing weight inexplicably. Despite initial scans showing no issues, a persistent cough surfaced late that year, and a lung X-ray revealed a 10cm mass. The devastating diagnosis followed: advanced Stage 4 lung cancer.
Since early 2023, Rob has undergone chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and multiple rounds of intensive Gamma Knife radiosurgery to treat brain lesions. The cancer has spread to his bones, further deteriorating his health. He also suffered two strokes, forcing him to give up hockey, a beloved sport.
Rob carries a rare Exon 20 mutation, which is not routinely tested for in the UK and is notoriously resistant to many treatments. However, there are promising life-extending drugs—Sunvozertinib and Furmonertinib—that could improve his outlook. Unfortunately, these medications are not available through the NHS and must be imported under special licences at a monthly cost of approximately £15,000.
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Determined to give Rob more time, especially to celebrate his 50th birthday next year, Erica has launched a GoFundMe campaign seeking donations to cover the expensive treatment. The response has been overwhelming, raising over £22,000 in just four days.
Erica shared an emotional video from the hospital where Rob was undergoing another radiosurgery session. Tearfully, she expressed the financial strain and her deep desire to save her husband, explaining that the couple has exhausted personal resources and cannot remortgage their home due to Rob’s health.
The couple, childhood sweethearts of 28 years and recently celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary, have been touched by the generosity of strangers. Erica recalled Rob’s emotional reaction upon seeing the fundraiser reach £19,000—hope blossomed that he might reach his milestone birthday.
Rob is now on palliative care, and these life-extending drugs could significantly improve his quality of life. The rare nature of his mutation means it was only identified due to participation in a drug trial and biopsy analysis in the USA.
Erica is also advocating for better lung cancer diagnostics in the UK. She highlights that current testing fails to detect many rare mutations, limiting treatment options and contributing to poor outcomes. “Every biopsy should use next generation sequencing,” she insists.
Despite the challenges, Erica praises Rob’s medical team at Forest Health Care and Cheltenham General Hospital for their exceptional care and adjustments to his treatment.
Through adversity, the couple remain resolute. Erica concludes, “These last weeks have been incredibly tough, but we’re staying positive. This is our time, and we’re going to make the most of it.”