Footballer’s wife makes ‘final push’ to raise money for cancer treatment saying it is ‘too soon to tell my children I am leaving them’

A footballer’s wife and mother-of-two has shared her horror after her ‘biggest fear’ has come to pass – with the cancer she has been battling for years now spreading to her lungs.

Rachel Borthwick, from Glasgow, who is married to St Johnstone’s Graham Carey, is battling the disease for a fourth time and has been frantically raising funds via a GoFundMe page to be able to seek treatment in Germany.

The 36-year-old has managed to raise over £100,000 so far but is still £50,000 away from her target.

And she was delivered ‘even more gut-wrenching news’ this week, with doctors telling her the cancer – which started as breast cancer – has spread to both of her lungs.

‘My heart is shattered,’ Rachel said. ‘My biggest fear has happened and I don’t have any words. ‘I am completely numb to my core.

‘The [cancerous] nodules are tiny at the minute but I am absolutely devastated.

‘As much as I’m trying to stay positive, I always had in my head that if it [the cancer] went to any main organ, it would be a downward spiral from there.

‘I can’t even take it in or process it, to be honest. Life is so, so unfair.’

Rachel Borthwick (pictured before her cancer) is now battling cancer for the fourth time – and is raising money to seek treatment in Germany

The 36-year-old (pictured, centre) has two children, nine-year-old Jaxon and seven-year-old daughter Marlow (both pictured)

Rachel, who is mother to son Jaxon, nine, and her seven-year-old daughter Marlow, had ‘no symptoms whatsoever’ and was in ‘great’ health when she first found a lump on her breast in September 2021.

But she was diagnosed with breast cancer just six weeks later and quickly started treatment to beat it.

Rachel was given the all-clear for the first time in November 2022, but her ‘worst nightmare’ came true when she found a lump in her armpit the following March.

During treatment, in June that year she found a third lump in the same area – which was also confirmed to be cancerous.

And from there she was handed a fourth cancer diagnosis in November 2023.

While Rachel has had multiple rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, none have worked long-term, and a fundraiser was launched to help fund the costs of alternative treatment in Germany.

Rachel said: ‘So far I have found two places in Germany that look promising but I’m still in the middle of sending emails and discussing lots of information.

‘I’m not sure if it’s only the lungs they can target, but if so it means the cancer in my chest and muscle will continue to grow.

Rachel (pictured undergoing treatment for cancer) has had multiple rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, none have worked long-term

As the treatments Rachel (pictured) has had have been ineffective longterm, she has started seeking alternative treatment in Germany – but it is extremely expensive

Rachel (pictured) has described the cost of treatment as ‘unfair’, and says that while she feels ‘blessed’ to have raised money to pay for it, she still needs to raise more

According to Rachel, she is making a ‘final push’ to raise the money for her treatment, saying that she ‘cannot tell [her] kids [she’s] leaving them, it’s too soon’

‘It is hell on earth.

‘The cost for these treatments is so unfair.

‘I am so blessed to have some of the funds in my GoFundMe, but we need to raise more.

‘I cannot tell my kids I’m leaving them, it’s too soon.

‘One final push to pay for as many trips and treatments as I can over there.

‘My cancer grows rapidly so time is against us.’

Prior to her initial diagnosis, the mother-of-two led a healthy lifestyle and exercised regularly.

Rachel previously said: ‘I had no symptoms whatsoever.

‘I was at the gym all the time and I was fit and healthy.

‘My health was great prior to this – I barely even got a cold.

‘Being told I had cancer the first time was horrific but another two times after is just indescribable.

‘I now live in fear every single day and suffer from the worst anxiety.

‘As much as I am trying to stay hopeful and positive, I really do feel like a ticking time bomb and every single second is precious to me.

Because her cancer is growing rapidly, Rachel says she feels like ‘a ticking time bomb’, adding ‘every single second is precious to [her]’

BEFORE: Prior to being diagnosed with cancer, Rachel says she was constantly at the gym and rarely even suffered from a cold

Now she has been diagnosed with cancer for the fourth time, Rachel says she ‘lives in fear every single day and suffers from the worst anxiety’ – largely because of the impact on her children

‘It has had a massive effect on my children.

‘They know what is happening as I am always open and honest with them.

‘My children shouldn’t have to worry about a life with no mummy.

‘They are my whole world, and I made a promise to them to fight this with every inch of my being.

‘Everything I do is for them.’