Boyzone singer Ronan Keating has begged his followers to help a fan who is battling a rare form of cancer.
Nicola Crymble is a 43-year-old mother of three from Annalong, in Co Down, Northern Ireland who has recently shared her story publicly to raise awareness about living with an ultra-rare, metastatic form of FATWO, a one-in-a-billion cancer.
Only around 150 cases have ever been recorded in the whole world so many doctors will never see a patient with the illness.
Nicola Crymble. Pic: Facebook
On Wednesday, Ronan reshared her story and urged any of his followers who are doctors to help Nicola.
Speaking on social media, the Dubliner said: ‘Nicola is a mum from Northern Ireland, currently battling FATWO, one of the rarest cancers in the world.
‘So rare, only 150 cases have been recorded, and as yet there’s no current standard treatment or trials available.
Ronan Keating. Pic: Instagram
‘We want to share Nicola’s story as far as we can in the hope that it will reach other medical specialists who may be able to help. So please share far and wide and get in touch with her directly on the link below. Sending all our love to her and her family too.’
Just over £2,500 has been raised for Nicola through a GoFundMe set up last week by her husband Andrew, who described Nicola as ‘the heart of our family’.
He wrote: ‘My name is Andrew, and I’m fundraising for my wife, Nicola. She’s 43, mum to Rebecca, Rachel and Hope, and the heart of our family.
‘Nicola has been diagnosed with FATWO, a one-in-a-billion cancer. Only around 150 cases have ever been recorded in the whole world. That’s about three women a year, worldwide.
Nicola Crymble. Pic: Facebook
‘Most doctors will never see one, and most of Nicola’s hadn’t. It’s a diagnosis no family is ever prepared to hear.’
Describing Nicola, he said she is a woman ‘who worries about everyone else, even now.’
‘She loved her job as a classroom assistant and has poured her heart into Kenya for years, serving children and families there. She’s funny, stubborn in the best way, and her faith carries her. Through all of this, she gets up every single day for her girls.’
He said Nicola has been living with ‘constant pain, exhaustion and weight loss’ for months. Doctors initially told her it was early menopause and anxiety, before they discovered she had this rare form of cancer.
Andrew said: ‘When a scan finally found a very large growth, she had major surgery in February 2025, and a long recovery.
Nicola Crymble. Pic: Facebook
‘We hoped that was the end. It wasn’t. This year Nicola found new lumps, and in September an MRI confirmed the cancer had come back, at the top of her pelvis and on her liver, close to her heart and bowel.
‘Surgery and targeted radiotherapy have been ruled out. On 13 October, Nicola started chemotherapy. Our hearts are broken. But Nicola isn’t giving up, and neither are we,’ he added.
Since launching their GoFundMe £5 donation, specialists in Belfast, New York, Virginia and Toronto have already offered to look at Nicola’s case.
‘And we’ve been put in touch with two other women living with FATWO. For a cancer this rare, that’s something we never expected,’ Andrew added.
Reacting to the donations, Nicola said: ‘I’m completely blown away by the support. Treatment has started. Don’t get me wrong, it’s scary, but I’m going to fight this. I trust the Lord to be with me and walk alongside me. We’ve got this.’