Diane’s Treatment

As many people know, I have been undergoing treatment for breast cancer for some time now, having been first diagnosed in 2011. Just recently I was accepted into a clinical trial at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and my hopes were high that finally, this might be the answer.

Unfortunately, after only a few weeks it was evident that the immunotherapy treatment was not working and I was subsequently taken off the trial. I was obviously bitterly disappointed with this outcome, as were my family and friends, however the brilliant staff at St John of God Hospital in Geelong continue to look after me and are now looking for new treatments that I haven’t yet tried.

I’m currently receiving Herceptin and another chemotherapy called Navelbine, in addition to my fourth round of radiotherapy in an effort to reduce the tumours in my chest, back and right arm. However there is one more drug, called Perjeta, which I need in addition to the other two drugs. Perjeta recognises and attaches to a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 or “HER2”. It may kill or slow/stop the cancer cells from growing. It is very effective for treating metastatic (spreading) HER2 positive breast cancer, which I have.

When I was first diagnosed in 2011 Perjeta was unavailable and I was given other initial chemotherapy treatments available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) – Perjeta became available two years later! This means I am now ineligible to access Perjeta on the PBS, as it is only covered for use as an initial treatment.

Through my oncologist Dr Karen White and Prof Shereen Loi (consultant medical oncologist at Peter Mac), I recently applied on passionate grounds to obtain Perjeta from the Roche drug company but was declined. Prof Shereen has recommended Perjeta to me as she has seen prolonged positive responses to the drug.

The only way I can access this drug now is to buy it myself. The initial dose costs $6000 and subsequent doses every three weeks are $3000. I am financially unable to meet these costs but I would desperately love to obtain Perjeta. I am now appealing to anyone who could donate or at least share this page far and wide amongst family, friends and colleagues. Any help would be so greatly appreciated.  

Diane x