Kickin' it with cancer (Herceptin Fundraiser): Tomorrow Tomorrow

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.

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?!!

05 May 2008

Tomorrow Tomorrow

With much pride I will announce at reception tomorrow "Hi I'm Sarvs Falefitu and I have chemo today" and I will wait happily for as long as it takes.
When my oncology nurse calls me from the waiting room at Daystay Oncology I will float to my designated bed or lazy boy.
When I am asked to soak my arm in hot hot water I will grit, bear and soak longer than normal grinning from ear to ear.
If my oncology nurse has trouble finding a good vein I will remember the white sands and blue clear waters of Savai'i back in 2005.
Time will not bother me in the slightest tomorrow even if chemo takes longer than normal and I get caught in the traffic on the way home. I will take it all in my stride.

I haven't thought much about tomorrow since January 15 2008 and right now I feel like a child ready to board a plane for a holiday.
Tomorrow has taken a long time to get here.

Tomorrow I will have my last chemo treatment, ever. It's enough to rip me nightie and enough to make me cry. ROLL ON TOMORROW!!!

No comments:

What's on the Board Miss Ford?

As the start date for my treatment loomed closer and with the last glimmer of hope, I knew in my heart of hearts that target goal was not going to be met.

To keep the momentum and drive of any large fundraiser no matter how vital, does take a toll on your loved ones.

Along this long drawn out chapter in our journey we learned many things about each other and ourselves.
We also along the way made some not so good decisions which in the bigger scheme of it all really was outweighed by the good decisions and many hours of laughter together.
Many times the committee and I would not see the expected funds raised BUT these wonderful sisters put up a good, strong and hard campaign even in the face of their own adversities.

Taking into account what we didn't make from each fundraiser, taking out expenses used sometimes to run our fundraisers and the paid treatments I have received when ‘THE’ announcement was made November 19 I had enough funds left for another 4 treatments.

The National Government removed the anticipated sleepless nights, high anxiety levels and enormous stress of how many more fundraiser's we could possible hold before the funds dried up, let alone how much longer the committee could hold out.

Now I concentrate on healing and my loved ones.

My sincerest thank you to the my family, many friends and several strangers of NZ and across the ditch who supported in more ways than I could ever dream possible.

People I know who were effected in some way because of our fight had a change of heart and voted National. Thank you, thank you to the National Government who have made good on this promise, I can use this to help others who may not be so fortunate to have been given that silver lining of extended life like myself.

WOOP WOOP WOOP NO MORE FUNDRAISING!!

Miss Ford's Board is now officially CLOSED!!

Many hands make light work

The saying 'many hands make light work' couldn't be further from the truth particularly as we witness others who have taken it into their own hands and have run (or are currently running) their own fundraisers for Sarvs Herceptin treatment.
From the Committee we thank you sincerely for 'putting your money where your mouth is' by making the journey that much more merrier!

After the completion of your own fundraiser for Sarvs please let us know what you did to fundraise, who was involved, how much you raised and photos for keepsakes as we know Sarvs would love to post it all on this blog.
Details of your own fundraise can be emailed to all4sarvs@yahoo.co.nz

Proud to be Kelston Award

The Kelston community wanted to acknowledge great works from people within their community and I was privileged to be invited to speak for 10 minutes and present to my SHAVE OFF Boyz from my Shave Off fundraiser held back in May this year the Proud to be Kelston Awards. Above: The Gavet family (Kaisa was absent because he was in Tonga at the time). I opened with a ten minute speech and in true Samoan tradition my SHAVE OFF family arrived a couple of minutes before I finished...hahahaha...so I stopped and asked the audience if they wouldn't mind just waiting for them to settle into the hall because after all it was all about them!! Love you all for your love...!!!

IMMIGRATION CONTACT CENTRE

My workplace full of supportive folks reduced me to tears (which is very hard to do) by holding a 'Sarvs Day' to present their larger than life cheque for my Herceptin treatment!
My desk and chair all decorated with pink shells, pink flowers, pink rosebud soap had a bag with a note that requested for me to put the items jnside on. Inside and just for me a pair of pink fairy wings, a pink bandana, a pink pair of groovy shades and a pink lei. Pizza's were the order of the day, eaten among the many pink balloons spread throughout the office!
Unfortunately I was away unwell (aarggh!!) on Sarvs's Day but I understand the pizza's were great and I know much deserved for the hard work put into organising the fundraising events.

Immigration Contact Centre, thank you all so much for your wonderful efforts and to the R & R team (including Aleli Go) even though I missed this awesome day, please know that I am ever so grateful for such a gracious gesture.
$1141.90 raised will go towards my Herceptin!!!

Akerei and Tila...WOW!!!

Big alofa's to Akerei and his sister Tila for an outstanding effort in raising $2000.00 for my Herceptin. Akerei, with a heart of gold decided that the funds he raised from his social would go to my treatment even though originally it was to go towards his trip to the States where they were having fundraiser league matches for the families of those that lost loved ones in the line of duty - I really could not have thanked Akerei and Tila enough for the huge love they showed for me and my family!! I would also like to thank G.Harris for gifting a luxury weekend at the Langham hotel to my husband and I complete with a butler and Pacific Blue for gifting return flights to anywhere in NZ for hubby and I to get away and forget about it all!!! Unfortunately the cool pics we took that night were not able to be bluetoothed from phone to PC but know that I was touched then and am still in awe of your kindness. Fa'afetai tele lava...!!!!

SIZZLIN' @ SAS's CONCERT

My mum, sister, friends and our teen daughters (Brittany, Edom, Syreeta, Denae, Kendra) and my sons (Kroydon and Grayson) braved the wet freakish weather to hold another sausage sizzle at Sweet n Sour's Fundraiser concert held again in Kelston on Saturday 28 June 08. SAS allowed us to sset up and sizzle away to continue our fundraising that night. Thanks SAS boyz...we made $195.30 during the intermission, not bad for 15 minutes!! Thanks also to my menfolk (hubby and 2 son's) who did the prep work for us, muwhaah! Good luck to Sweet n Sour who are off to USA for the World Hip Hop Competition. Represent fellas...!!!

BOP MEAT RAFFLE

A massive kia ora-cation to all the folks for getting behind the MEAT RAFFLE of the year that was masterminded and driven by Debbie Stewart, Esther Bonne and Tina Leitner.
The awesome trio from Kawerau and Ohope along with the meat lovers of BOP russled up $2080.00 for my Herceptin treatment (clearly no vegetarians down there...!).

Thank you so very much for sending that support and love up my way, truly...!!

1st prize, $250 meat voucher

Jodi McIntosh (Whakatane)
Ticket number: 423

2nd prize, $100 meat voucher
Fausa Kome (Mt Roskill)
Ticket number: 217

3rd prize, $50 meat voucher
Placemakers (Whakatane)
Ticket number: 377
The boss brought 40 tickets, one for each of his staff. Everyone needs a boss like this - how cool is he!!

I can assure you that this meat raffle was not rigged as it was drawn under close police supervision!!

Below: Jodi McIntosh (left) accepting her win from Debbie Stewart (right)

SHAVE OFF FUNDRAISER

Our SHAVE OFF was a fantastic night spent with family and friends turning up to support our cause.
We hosted 65 guests and whilst gorging through the yummy-as finger food and sipping on good NZ wine we shaved off hair for one and half hours solid, laughing all the way to making a cool $1802.27..!!
A huge thank you to 'Uncle George' and his gorgeous boys (including a few Kelston 1st 15 boys), my close friend Chris (Dr Evil..who loves ya babe!), our other friend Paddy who surprised us with a last minute decision to SHAVE OFF (with a glass of wine to help him along - honest Sheryl I had nothing to do with it!!), our quiet Tongan uso Iate, crazy Karis (still need a broom brother), my handsome son Kroydon - what a random dude and of course everyone that turned up to make it what it was. A fantastically successful evening of aroha. (pics will follow soon)
**Thank you to special visitors Junior T and the Cakemaker on the night for their donation to a cause very close to their hearts. I was fortunate enough to get one of those delectable cupcakes too. My prayers and thoughts are with you Maara (another courageous survivor), Junior and family..oxo**

GOLF TOURNAMENT - Puttin it for Sarvs

GOLF TOURNAMENT (Wed 4 June 08)
We want to thank again everyone who gave up a day to support Sarvs's whom most had never met until registration but were touched enough by her plight to be there to create another memorable milestone along our journey. Our extraordinary teams -
Ngati Cocco, Fantastic Four, Par Lagi's, Hawai'i 5.0, John's Mob, Fortress, Saints, Placemakers (Mt Wgtn), Jacobsen;'s, Manu Samoa, Devil's and Leftover (lol).
$1102.00 was raised through this awesome event!!!
Special thanks to Ueta for organising the entire event with prizes; Karen and Fortress for donating more prizes, Bazza and Jan who drove all the way from Whangarei (not to mention beat most of the Aucklander's to registration...LOL...!!), to the staff from Chamberlain who welcomed us all and the 2 lovely registration ladies Margs and Las.

Glossary

Adjuvant chemotherapy: cancer treatment with drugs to assist another treatment
Benign: a tumour that is not cancerous and will not spread to other parts of body
Biopsy: removal of a small amount of cells or tissues so that it can be examined under a microscope
Chemotherapy: use of special drugs to treat cancer by killing cancer cells or slowing the growth
HER2: Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor-type 2
Hormone receptors: indicators on the surface of some cancer cells suggesting cancer cells are reliant on hormones to assist in the cancer growth and so it might respond to hormone treatment
LOL: Laugh Out Loud (text lingo)
Lymph or lymphatic: lymphatic system is part of the immune system protecting the body against bacteria and parasites. It is a network of small lymph nodes connected by thin lymph vessels branching into every part of the body. Lymph fluid flows through this system and carries cells to fight disease and infection
Lymph glands or nodes: small kidney shaped sacs found along the lymphatic system. Lymph nodes filter the lymph fluid removing bacteria and other harmful agents such as cancer cells. Lymph nodes are in your abdomen, neck, armpit and groin.
Malignant: a tumour that is cancerous and likely to spread if it is not treated
Mammogram: x-ray of the breast to examine a breast lump; can be used to detect a breast cancer before a lump can be detected
Masectomy: surgical removal of the breast
Mestastatic: another cancer that has grown in a different part of the body because of the spread of cancer cells from the original site. Sometimes called secondary cancer.
Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy: chemotherapy given before the primary treatment to improve the effectiveness of the treatment
Neutropenic: a haematological disorder charactised by abnormally low number of neutrophil granulocytes (type of white blood cells or neutropils)
Neutrophils: most abundant type of white blood count cells in humans and form an intergral part of the immune system; usually makes up 50-70% of white blood cells and serve as primary defense against infections by killing bacteria in the blood
Radiation therapy: the use of radiation usually x-rays to kill cancer cells or injure them so they do not multiply or grow.
Tumour: a lump or swelling which can be benign or malignant
Ultrasound: sound waves of high frequency used to examine structures within the body

Thank you..(rolling list)

A heartfelt never ending thank you to everyone who have touched and made an impact on my journey, in one way or another!!
My loving parents, my wonderful sisters (all committee), hubby, my gorgeous chillens, extended family on both mum and dad's side, my lovely Wellingtonian fanua the Mercury's, Treez & family, SM Kailahi, Mr Mete, AM Bielby, Mrs Vinsen, Miss Edwards, Mr Maruska, Adele L, Aunty Mafua, Aunty Fatima and fanua, K Dayal (thank you thank you), ME Simpson, Moni Beaumont, Westforce, Kimberley, Janelle and her Carlton gals, Scanlan's, Luatua's, KR Vodo, Ingrid, Ria, Chris, Fouena and her family, Kristie, P Sellers, Mrs Woodrof, Clague clan, E Tagalea, Busy Builders, Moka, Bonne's, Stewarts, Leitners, Te Whata's, Leka, D Filipo, Irene Pink and the comedians from Comedy Show, Ms Crossley, Fob, AJ Jasmine, Chanelle, D Murphy, Meareana, INZ DocSec & Manukau, Max, Davidson, S E Brown, A Welch, Lisa H, Young family, peeps down in K-town, DS&JA Jones, J&J Gavet, JF Stewart, Peter Ah Kuoi, Saylene, Joe, Henry whanau, Bazza, Ese & tribe, Bonnie&Mandy, Sani and her wonderful chillens, Carey D, Wills family, MacKenzie clan, Hobsonville Hustlers, Tangi, Gospel, Marz, Edmonds whanua, Natasha, Karen, the entire Gavet family, Bourke family, Jodi (Tat Pen Countdown), the lady in Peppermint Twist (Tat Pen), fantastic folks at NZ Post, Junior and Maara, the CakeMaker, Tanginoa's, Lee Sang's, Magele's, Johnston's, Donna, Mrs Ross, Luamanuvae's, Ness, Dale & Faga, Aunty Oli, Joe and the BNZ staff, D Glover, Diane, Neil, Stan, Stephen, Claire, Moyra, Kelera, Flight Centre chicks, Anitelea's, Ola fanau, Gail, Sefa and baby, Liuliu Afoa's, L-A aiga, Pronesia, Rita & fanau, Oncology staff, Ward 64 staff, Rowan, Arvin, Mike Mc, Melissa, Jenny, Beverley, Cydel, Koka family, Betty Anne and Friend, Ash and blues mates, Su'a William Sio, Pili, Lil Saints, Polytentials, Allegro, Alofa Tunoa Ministry Band, Marama and crew, Grace Ikenasio, The Roadies (thanks Bonnie), Caldwell's, Ese, Karl and Justyce, Vito, Paul and Tajih, Dean, Kelston community, Kelston Boys High School, Jason Tiatia, Nic the technician, Yolande, Sarah Hume (Brisbane), Simon & Tiana, Flight Centre gals,

Messages of support from 'YOU'

15.01.08
Hi there Sarvs and family,
Just to let you know that we are thinking of you as you go through your treatment today. Be strong and know that there are many people out there supporting you from near and far.
It is at times like this that you need to draw courage and strength from others to fight this battle as the journey would seem insurmountable on your own.
Please know that if there is anything else we can do for you we would love to help.
Love Esther Mike and girls - Ohope

14.01.08
Hi there I heard about the fundraising through my cousin Alan Leitner. I hope this helps in some small way. God Bless you and the family... Alofa's from Melbourne, Sala Ta'avili xox

12.01.08
To Sarvs!
Mate! You haven't changed with your take the bulls by the horn attitude to life Sister!Apologies for not saying hi to you at CCF just wayside with shucks no excuse really eh! Anyways I love the blog its excellent and I must pass it on to Anne. I know when she found out she was sad but reading your blog its sad, scarey and like a whole new lease on life. But then thats what I see and it may be different when you're in it eh Sis! Just letting you know mate you're a writer I enjoy it and look forward to hearing more of this journey. I take part in your journey by keeping you and the family in my daily prayers. I know for some it may mean nothing but to me God is my comfort, joy, security and thats all I know that I can turn to when I lift those I love and care before Him in all situations negative or positive. Okay Sis be good (wateva) and live life to the max. Love you! PeaceTulili

Kickin' it with cancer (Herceptin Fundraiser)

Introduction

I have breast cancer and so...

Accolades

Breakdown of Herceptin costs

Blog Archive

05 May 2008

Tomorrow Tomorrow

No comments:

Categories

What's on the Board Miss Ford?

Winners of XMAS HAMPERS...

Winning ticket for Alcohol Hamper:

DON'T FORGET

PERFORMING ARTS FUNDRAISER - Friday 26 September @ 7.30pm

Many hands make light work

Proud to be Kelston Award

IMMIGRATION CONTACT CENTRE

Akerei and Tila...WOW!!!

KELSTON BOYS HIGH SCHOOL ARTS DEPT.

SIZZLIN' @ SAS's CONCERT

BOP MEAT RAFFLE

SHAVE OFF FUNDRAISER

BABY LUAMANUVAE

CAREY'S HAIRCUTTING FUNDRAISER

BOOBS COMEDY FUNDRAISER SHOW

WALKATHON - Walking the Distance

GOLF TOURNAMENT - Puttin it for Sarvs

SAUSAGE SIZZLE

Do you believe Pharmac should fund the proven 12 month Herceptin treatment for early stage HER2+ breast cancer so that it does not progress to HER2+ advanced uncurable breast cancer? (For more information visit: www.breastcancer.org.nz)

Useful information sites

Related Articles

Glossary

Thank you..(rolling list)

Messages of support from 'YOU'