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Family Battles Rare Brain Cancer and Breast Cancer Diagnoses
18 Nov
Summary
- 4-year-old Raffi diagnosed with rare, aggressive brain cancer
- Mother Nicky also diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer weeks later
- Family raises over £200,000 for Raffi's treatment at US hospital
On November 18, 2025, the Starkowitz family from Bushey, Hertfordshire, is facing an unimaginable challenge. In April 2025, their 4-year-old son Raffi was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive brain cancer called Group 3 large cell anaplastic medulloblastoma. Just weeks ago, the family received another devastating blow when Raffi's mother, Nicky, was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer.
Raffi's symptoms first appeared in March 2025 when he started "walking a little wobbly." After an MRI revealed a large tumor, Raffi underwent a 10-hour surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital to remove it. He has since endured months of intense chemotherapy and proton beam radiation, but doctors warned the risk of relapse is extremely high.
Determined to give Raffi the best chance, the family has raised over £200,000 through a GoFundMe campaign to cover the cost of his treatment, travel, and accommodation at Penn State Children's Hospital in the United States. There, Raffi will participate in a new clinical trial using a drug called DFMO, which has shown promise in preventing high-risk cancers from returning.
Meanwhile, Nicky, a paediatric nurse, is also undergoing a mastectomy and chemotherapy for her own breast cancer diagnosis. The family is taking each day as it comes, with Nicky and Raffi scheduled to have chemotherapy together next week. Despite the unimaginable challenges, they remain hopeful and determined to fight for Raffi's recovery.
