Breast Cancer drug finally in NZ......

[carole]

As a lot of you already know my mother is a Breast Cancer survivor, she has been on Tamoxifin for nearly three years now and so far all is well, but there are far superior drugs out there, that are readily available and funded in Australia and England and probably USA as well, it has taken a lot of hard slogger and signing of petitions and writing letters to the minister of Health, (which I did) and they have given the go ahead at last to fund these new drugs, it is mainly for advanced cancer, so as yet I am not sure if my mother is a candidate, as her's was not, she still maybe able to get the drug, I am hoping so, she has a specialist appointment next month so we shall find out for sure then.

This whole situation has angered many women in NZ, because we have one of the highest rates of Breast Cancer in the world, and apparently the worst care, you have a much higher chance of survival if you live in UK or Australia, that really sucks IMO.

Howerver Just had to share this good news, because this is a major break through for all women in NZ.

[smokey the elder]

I forget the name of the drug (Herceptin, maybe?) but it beats tamixifen all hollow for some types of breast cancer. They stopped a Phase III study early, to allow folks on the placebo arm to get the drug. They only do this is the drug is VERY good!

[lizbud]

I took Tamoxafin for five years after my surgery & was then
offered a chance to continue with an experimental drug that was
under study. Tamoxafin was very much the drug of choice about
7 or 8 yrs ago. I don't know if certain drugs are chosen for the
specific type or stage of the cancer.

[catnapper]

That is great news! I can't believe you have such a high rate of breast cancer yet lack the medical backing necessary to combat the disease. Hopefully that will change soon! Good first step towards the care and meds you need!

[carole]

Thank you for the information, I think my mother will be eligible to have it funded, as it is already available for advanced BC people, so I am hopeful, yes Kim it is bad news that we have such a high rate and not the medical care to back it up, I would like to see a study done as to why we have such a high rate as well, I guess it all mounts down to being a small country not having all the resources that a bigger country would.

Herceptin was one of the drugs mentioned.