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?!!
Showing posts with label Herceptin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Herceptin. Show all posts

21 December 2007

What is Herceptin?

Herceptin contains the ingredient trastuzumab and is an anti-cancer agent.
Herceptin belongs to a class called monoclonal anitbodies.
Herceptin is used to treat a certain type of metastatic (spreading) breast cancer.
Some people with this type of breast cancer have a large amount of protein called HER2 on the cancer cells. Herceptin attaches itself to these HER2 proteins (or receptors) on the cancer cells to stop the growth and mulitplying of these cancer cells.

To find out more about Herceptin you can visit http://www.cancernz.co.nz/
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18 December 2007

Rubber meets the road

Oncology appointment. Before meeting with the oncologist I was given homework to complete and to send back to his office.
The very last question was around the level of disclosure. I was to state the level of information I would appreciate eg., full, frank and open discussion or would there be issues I would not be ready to discuss yet?
Me being me stated I wanted full, frank and open - you know grab the bull by the freaking horns and let's just get on with the damned thing.
One hour and ten minutes later I now have more decisions to make. The only upside to that is that I have more time to raise $80k should I choose the full 12 month course of Herceptin.
Yes I am weighing up my options as to whether I wish to risk heart failure and some other 'lovely stuff' if I complete the full 12 month course or the 50/50 chance of cancer not reoccuring. Of course the biggest downside to that is that should it reoccur within 10 years it comes back more aggressive and it will be just a matter of time...
I'm a fighter and I won't have statistics dictate my life.
I need to make the right decision for myself, accept and live with it with no regrets either way. I will be getting down on my knees regularly to do some real soul searching and to find that inner peace that I require for this one.
Tonight I didn't turn on the Christmas tree lights. Note to self: life must continue on as normal as possible.
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