A fly-in, fly-out worker facing stage four metastatic cancer has advised Australians to ‘trust your gut’ after her own intuition led to a critical diagnosis.
Brisbane woman Carmen Keogh, 33, thought she was fit and healthy until a routine check-up in late 2024 turned her life upside down.
Despite having no obvious symptoms, a PET scan revealed that her body was riddled with tumours beneath the skin.
She’s been in the fight of her life ever since.
‘There were spots on my liver, lungs, lymph nodes, subcutaneous tissue and on my bones as well,’ she told the Daily Mercury.
‘I was more in shock than anything, I remember just thinking ‘are you sure that’s my scan?”
It’s believed the cancer spread from a clear, itchy mole Ms Keogh had removed seven years ago.
Initially, doctors said the mole posed no threat, but Ms Keogh, recalling her cousin’s experience with a similar mole that was melanoma, insisted on its removal.
After testing identified the mole as a Clark Level IV melanoma, Ms Keogh received treatment and was assured the cancer hadn’t spread.
FIFO worker Carmen Keogh (pictured) was diagnosed with stage four metastatic cancer in December last year
Pictured are subcutaneous tumours visible through Ms Keogh’s skin
After having a second mole removed a few months later, she learned she carried a rare gene mutation and was highly susceptible to cancer.
Her worst fears became reality seven years later.
Despite knowing cancer was on her ‘radar’, the extent of the tumours was difficult to reconcile with the absence of symptoms.
Ms Keogh underwent five rounds of immunotherapy, which failed to contain the spread.
‘Unfortunately it wasn’t working…the cancer had progressed,’ she said.
The only approved option left was therapy tablets, which resulted in rare and frightening side effects early on.
Thankfully, the side effects have worn off and the treatment has reduced the visible tumours in her subcutaneous tissue.
But Ms Keogh realises she will likely become resistant to the treatment.
PET scans reveal the extent of the tumours throughout her body. They have since reduced after Ms Keogh began taking targeted therapy tablets
Had the immunotherapy worked, her oncologist said there was a 62 per cent chance Ms Keogh would still be alive in five years’ time.
The five-year survival rate for stage four metastatic cancer in Australia is less than 25 per cent.
‘Since immunotherapy hasn’t been effective, I haven’t asked about the prognosis… I’m not sure if knowing would worsen the situation,’ she mentioned.
Despite her diagnosis, Ms Keogh manages numerous medical appointments alongside her full-time role on a seven-days-on/seven-days-off schedule at Hail Creek, an open-cut mine in Queensland’s Isaac Region.
Ms Keogh recognizes the significance of trusting one’s instincts about health, having lost her mother to ovarian cancer at 17.
‘Don’t ignore your body even if you feel healthy, keep up with regular checks and trust your gut if something feels off,’ she told the newspaper.
Ms Keogh’s loved ones have launched a GoFundMe campaign to assist with soaring medical expenses and alternative treatment options.
If the current treatment stops working, her last resort will be experimental clinical trials which cost up to $90,000.
‘Fighting cancer is hard enough — but fighting to afford to stay alive is an impossible weight,’ the fundraiser reads.
‘Carmen hopes for alternative treatments and clinical trials, which come with a daunting cost: $70,000 to $90,000, none of which is covered by insurance or government support.
Ms Keogh continues to fight and has urged others to avoid waiting when it comes to health
‘She’s still working full-time, managing endless appointments, and pushing through overwhelming fatigue; however she can’t do this alone anymore.’
Donations will also allow Ms Keogh to participate in clinical trials, fund scans, medications and hospital visits, and take time off work to focus on recovery.
‘Carmen has spent her life facing hardship with quiet strength. We are not asking for anything more than a fighting chance,’ the fundraiser added.
Despite the terrifying prognosis, Ms Keogh is planning a European holiday for next year and hopes to one day raise a family of her own.
