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.



My gals, Denae (left) & Kendra

My boyz, Grayson (left) and Kroydon

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?!!

30 January 2008

Lock down - Ward 64, Room 4

Wednesday 23 January, day 9 after chemo just when I thought I couldn't feel any worse, I note that my temperature was rising, the throat wasn't just 'sore' anymore rather notably painful and there didn't seem to be an off button on my ole bodes plumbing system - just to put it politely.
Not wishing to alarm my family too much I ask Kroydon to drive me to Acute Oncology Unit, Auckland Hospital for 'a check up'.
10.30am: Temp, 38.4 and rising - neutropenic fever.
There was a lot of action from the time of arrival to the time I was admitted. I was again made to appreciate my life and my situation was put into perspective while listening to two very strong grandmothers, one with colon cancer and the other ovarian cancer. The tests they had to endure at their ages and dealing with the emotions of their children, their children's children I couldn't fathom. I looked on and listened not with pity but with admiration of their courage and strength.
6.00pm: Lock down - Ward 64, Room 4
Chemo kills both bad and good cells therefore any infection going round I am more than likely to pick up and then could die from if not treated immediately. Now that might sound quite drastic but unfortunately it is a reality for most cancer patients going through chemo and as one of the nurses on my ward said these situations can become life threatening. So needless to say the hospital is the safest place for us where we can be supported back to um....normality.
(NB: I spent 6 days in hospital to recover. Thanks to Ellen, Noelle, Rowan, Raji, Janet, Sandy, Rose, Arvin, Natalie and Tarina for nursing me back to good health and out of hospital.)
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