‘My firefighter husband has spent years helping others, now he needs help battling cancer’

“Anyone who knows Dougie knows that he is an incredibly kind, caring and hardworking man who would do anything for his family”

A Co Antrim mum is desperately fundraising for life-extending treatment after her firefighter husband was diagnosed with stage four cancer.

Julie Alexander says her family’s world has been turned upside down after her partner Dougie learned he had Stage 4 esophageal cancer, known as adenocarcinoma, in June of this year. This is an advanced cancer that spreads beyond the esophagus, either to nearby organs and/or to distant lymph nodes or other distant organs such as the liver or lungs.

Dougie, from Carrickfergus, has worked for the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) for many years, protecting others and putting his community first. Now, his wife says it’s Dougie who needs help.

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He is facing a tough battle after being diagnosed just a few months ago. His family is now seeking financial support to cover the costs of an essential immunotherapy treatment called Pembrolizumab, which could significantly extend his time with them.

This drug can assist the immune system in fighting cancer and has been shown to provide people with precious extra months with their loved ones. Unfortunately, this treatment isn’t covered by the NHS, and the financial burden is overwhelming.

Julie said: “Anyone who knows Dougie knows that he is an incredibly kind, caring and hardworking man who would do anything for his family and is the most amazing dad to our 10-year-old son. Away from work and family, Dougie has always had a real passion for motorbikes – nothing makes him happier than being out on the road.

“The NHS is giving Dougie chemotherapy alongside a targeted drug called Trastuzumab – this is the best they can offer for his type of cancer. However, because his tumour is HER2 positive and PD-L1 positive, Dougie could also benefit from an extra treatment: an immunotherapy drug called Pembrolizumab. This drug can help the immune system fight the cancer and has been shown to give people precious extra months with their loved ones.”

Sadly, Pembrolizumab is not funded on the NHS for Dougie’s condition. the only way to access this is by paying privately at a cost of around £100,000 over two years – something Julie says is “far more than we can manage alone” and why they are reaching out for help.

Julie, who launched a GoFundMe in recent days to help pay towards Dougie’ treatment and has so far raised over £17,000, added: “Every penny raised will go directly towards Dougie’s treatment, giving him the best chance of spending more quality time with our son and creating memories that will last a lifetime.

“Your kindness and support mean the world to Dougie, our son and all of us who love him. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to read our story and any help given will be truly appreciated.”

Dougie’s colleagues at Carrickfergus Fire Station and North NIFRS are also encouraging people to help “an incredible person, deeply dedicated to his family and his job”.

Donations to the family’s GoFundMe campaign to help Dougie fight adenocarcinoma to give him more time can be made here.

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