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?!!

25 February 2008

Chemo brain

What is chemo brain? Very similiar to mummy brain I would say except that I think chemo does kill off more than 3/4 of ones brain cells..!
After only two chemo cocktails, chemo brain is in full force around at my brain. How do I know? Well let's see...
1. when you forget you have appointments (all 3 on the same day or was it I forgot what day it was?),
2. you continuously misplace your phone (with all your appointments programmed in it),
3. you misplace your diary (with all appointment cards and blood test appointments written in there),
4. you triple book yourself for different appointments on the same day,
5. you forget where you parked your car, spending almost 30 minutes walking around in a mindless panic in one of Auckland's biggest shopping places and you're almost reduced to tears because "everyone just knows I have chemo brain" (cuckoo sounds in your head going off),
6. you start forgetting quite regularly, for split seconds the names of your teenagers,
7. and why you cannot get the Mitsubishi car key into the Toyota car lock; OMG the keys are shaped entirely different too..!!
Then you should have some idea that you have chemo brain!!!
(NB: I am daring to share just some of my memory relapses that I can remember and the ones shared are not necessarily in order...coz I have forgotten the order they happened...LOL...seriously!)
I have my desk calendar both at home and work, my calendar on my phone and my diary so I really don't know what else there is to do apart from tattooing on my forehead everything I need to remember and all the places I need to be at! A friend of mine suggested a palm pilot but I would only misplace that too...what a hoot!

Unfortunately at this stage of my journey I have no life changing tips for women out there who might have to walk this tragic path shortly as sadly it is part and parcel of cancer however I will look back on all of this after my treatment is finished with a great bottle of 'Rockburn Pinot Noir' surrounded by great company and great music laughing my 'post chemo brain' off!!!
(PS: I will always remember that this is a bloodee niiiice drop)
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