Introduction
Sarvs Falefitu is a 40year old NZ born, Auckland bred Samoan/ Niuean. Sarvs is mother to four teenagers (Kroydon 19 years, Denae 16 years, Kendra 14 years, Grayson 13 years) and has been married to her 'Samoan warrior' for 19 1/2 years.
I have breast cancer and so...
This blog has been created in the hopes that I could raise awareness of this 'evil influence that spreads dangerously', according to Collins English Dictionary, Compact Edition, to fundraise to cover the majority of my Herceptin treatment and hopefully this might help other women even in the tiniest way who might be living and dealing to breast cancer also.
I have Grade 2, HER2 positive type cancer and my cancer has moved away from the primary spot and invaded other parts of my body via my lymph vessels and blood vessels. Along with chemotherapy and radiotherapy I will also need Herceptin. NZ only funds Herceptin for 9 weeks but a full 12 months is recommended. I have opted to take the recommended 12 months and it will cost exactly $96,273.60. While some specialists are 'comfortable' with 9 weeks of Herceptin, I am not. I want to attend my teenagers graduations. I need to wave them goodbye when they go on their OE's. I wish to witness them all walk down the aisles, be present at the births of my grandchillens and finally do my big OE with my hubby too - of course without the grandchillens!!! Clearly I have far too much to live for and I implore anyone with time to please support my fundraisers or send any fundraising ideas our way.
Your support will make a lasting difference to my quality of life and I sincerely thank you all in advance for your love and support.
Accolades
Sarvs wishes to acknowledge the amazing staff at St Marks Clinic who at the early days of her breast cancer diagnosis helped and coached her through one of the darkest days of her life.Thank you Michelle, Beverley, Jenny, Tracey, the wonderful surgeons Stephen and Stan. Most importantly Sarvs would like to acknowledge 'Johnny' for having the foresight to establish a beautiful haven such as St Marks Clinic many years ago for women such as herself.
Breakdown of Herceptin costs
Since day dot Dr Mike McCrystal my oncologist has been apologetic of the horrendous Herceptin costs for HER2+ women. Nothing to apologise about Mike it is out of your hands and ours however look closely at what Pharmac and NZ Government are blissfully content in handing to a cancer patient and their loved ones -
Loading dose cost: (1 loading treatment)
Drug cost, delivery (+GST) 500mg $7018.65
Nursing $250.00
Medical $350.00
Consumables $35.00
Hospital charge $100.00
GST $969.20
Sub-total $8722.85 for loading dose at 8mg/kg
Maintenance dose cost: (13 maintenance treatments)
Drug cost, delivery (+GST) 370mg $5251.35
Nursing $250.00
Medical $350.00
Consumables $350.00
Hospital charge $100.00
GST $748.30
Total $6734.65 maintenance dose at 6mg/ kg
Overall total for full course: $96,273.60
So dealing with the diagnosis of breast cancer, losing a breast, having major surgery, being put through chemo treatment, being hospitalised 3 times, going through radiotherapy, getting through the remission period, dealing with the emotional side of this all and then having to fundraise endlessly for Herceptin do you think Pharmac or NZ Government have the right to play God with our lives?!!
Accessorise
I've always loved accessories and now I get to go the whole hog i.e., shoes, handbags and headwear.
While in hospital I pulled out a huge chunk of my hair and while I have known for sometime that my crowning glory would eventually disappear from my crown, the sight of it between my fingers in my hands still reduced me to tears of sadness.
We are advised to cut our hair as short as possible before it falls out so that this part of cancer is not so traumatic and I had planned to get a 'Halle Berry' styled cut but things never went according to plan after my first chemo.Still weak from the neutropenic fever episode I took myself off to a local salon in the hopes that they could make me feel as stylish as Halle. Unfortunately the haircut didn't come with Halle's face or figure and I won't have too much time for the new style to grow on me because in a couple of weeks I will get a 'GI Jane' number 1 - literally I am malting like a house pet at the moment.
The malting is freaking out my chillens so I am wondering how they will handle it when both mum and dad are bald...LOL!!
I have cancer caps from the States that my sister and brother inlaw brought me; bandanas I got from Sylvia Park and more headwear that I purchased with the $400 grant from our Government. Now I am scouting around for earrings.....so if one cannot look like the gorgeous Halle Berry, one must then ACCESSORISE to soften the GI Jane number 1....
We are advised to cut our hair as short as possible before it falls out so that this part of cancer is not so traumatic and I had planned to get a 'Halle Berry' styled cut but things never went according to plan after my first chemo.Still weak from the neutropenic fever episode I took myself off to a local salon in the hopes that they could make me feel as stylish as Halle. Unfortunately the haircut didn't come with Halle's face or figure and I won't have too much time for the new style to grow on me because in a couple of weeks I will get a 'GI Jane' number 1 - literally I am malting like a house pet at the moment. 
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