About Us

The Sarah Jennifer Knott Foundation was established following Sarah’s death from Cancer of Unknown Primary aged 31.

To honour Sarah’s legacy, her family and friends set up the SJK Foundation in an effort to promote awareness, education and research into Cancer of Unknown Primary (CUP)

About Us

The Sarah Jennifer Knott Foundation was established following Sarah’s death from Cancer of Unknown Primary aged 31.

To honour Sarah’s legacy, her family and friends set up the SJK Foundation in an effort to promote awareness, education and research into Cancer of Unknown Primary (CUP)

Sarah - SJK Foundation

Sarah

Sarah was diagnosed with cancer in August of 2013. Initially her diagnosis was endometrial cancer. However the biopsy test was inconclusive, the histopathologist was unable to obtain a definitive diagnosis due to the nature of the cells. Sarah was referred to a specialist gynaecologist surgeon and he discussed the possibility of the cancer being a lymphoma. A couple of days later she got a call from the nurse specialist to say the cancer was not a lymphoma, but perhaps it could be a germ cell tumour. Weeks passed, whilst we waited for a diagnosis so Sarah could start treatment.

At Sarah’s next appointment (5th appointment for a diagnosis) she was diagnosed with lymphoma. We were all so happy and relieved as this is a very treatable cancer. Sarah was admitted to hospital, to commence treatment, which she had an amazing response to, with a tumour in her neck impalpable after the first dose of chemotherapy. However just before Sarah was discharged from hospital, her consultant delivered more devastating news, the histopathologist remained unconvinced the cell staining was a lymphoma and he would send her biopsy to Boston, USA for further investigation. Weeks later, Sarah was called for the sixth time to get her cancer diagnosis only to be told, despite extensive testing, it was impossible to find the primary source of the cancer, and she was officially diagnosed with cancer of unknown primary.(CUP)

Sarah - SJK Foundation

Sarah

Sarah was diagnosed with cancer in August of 2013. Initially her diagnosis was endometrial cancer. However the biopsy test was inconclusive, the histopathologist was unable to obtain a definitive diagnosis due to the nature of the cells. Sarah was referred to a specialist gynaecologist surgeon and he discussed the possibility of the cancer being a lymphoma. A couple of days later she got a call from the nurse specialist to say the cancer was not a lymphoma, but perhaps it could be a germ cell tumour. Weeks passed, whilst we waited for a diagnosis so Sarah could start treatment.

At Sarah’s next appointment (5th appointment for a diagnosis) she was diagnosed with lymphoma. We were all so happy and relieved as this is a very treatable cancer. Sarah was admitted to hospital, to commence treatment, which she had an amazing response to, with a tumour in her neck impalpable after the first dose of chemotherapy. However just before Sarah was discharged from hospital, her consultant delivered more devastating news, the histopathologist remained unconvinced the cell staining was a lymphoma and he would send her biopsy to Boston, USA for further investigation. Weeks later, Sarah was called for the sixth time to get her cancer diagnosis only to be told, despite extensive testing, it was impossible to find the primary source of the cancer, and she was officially diagnosed with cancer of unknown primary.(CUP)

Jennifer

Jenny (Sarah’s mum) was diagnosed with breast cancer in the summer of 1986, which led to a mastectomy, followed by chemotherapy and radiation treatments over the following year. Jenny had a career over 21 years at RTE and her love for charitable work was the inspiration behind the setting up of the SJK Foundation. Jenny passed away  on September 18th, 1987 aged 41. Sarah (the youngest of her four daughters) was just 4 years old when Jenny died.

Ray Knott, husband of Jenny and father of Sarah died on the 2nd January 2022. Co- founder of the Sarah Jennifer Knott Foundation he was an avid fundraiser, raising thousands of euro in donations and never missed an opportunity to raise awareness of cancer of unknown primary.

Ray, Jenny and Sarah are much loved and are greatly missed by their family and friends and always will be.

Sarah - SJK Foundation
Sarah - SJK Foundation

Jennifer

Jenny (Sarah’s mum) was diagnosed with breast cancer in the summer of 1986, which led to a mastectomy, followed by chemotherapy and radiation treatments over the following year. Jenny had a career over 21 years at RTE and her love for charitable work was the inspiration behind the setting up of the SJK Foundation. Jenny passed away  on September 18th, 1987 aged 41. Sarah (the youngest of her four daughters) was just 4 years old when Jenny died.

Ray Knott, husband of Jenny and father of Sarah died on the 2nd January 2022. Co- founder of the Sarah Jennifer Knott Foundation he was an avid fundraiser, raising thousands of euro in donations and never missed an opportunity to raise awareness of cancer of unknown primary.

Ray, Jenny and Sarah are much loved and are greatly missed by their family and friends and always will be.

The board

The board