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Help Amanda access life-saving cancer treatment

  • Fourth round of immunotherapy ✅

      23 February 2025
    Posted by: Amanda Broughton
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    It’s been a busy few months getting over chemotherapy, and used to immunotherapy. The side effects have been minimal; some liver toxicity that has delayed treatment, and currently a lot of nausea and fatigue. I am managing it mostly.

    Some highlights from the past few months: Elliot lost her first tooth, Lola turned 3, we had our first holiday in a year, went to a wedding, walked the Tongariro crossing, and ran two half marathons. Living large!

    Immunotherapy is every 3 weeks in the Cancer centre. It’s pretty wild swiping the credit card and paying $8,485 to sit in a chair for two hours to get this drug. Thank you for enabling me to get this treatment, and buying me time. The fear of recurrence can be heavy at times, but knowing that I’m doing all I can alleviates a lot of that anxiety. Thank you ❤️

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  • October Update

      13 October 2024
    Posted by: Amanda Broughton
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    Hello! I had to stop my oral chemotherapy (Xeloda) after a month as the side effects meant constant nausea, burning sore feet, painful red eyes and blurry sight, hot flushes and heavy fatigue. 1-2 hour naps some days which makes work and parenting near impossible. Will likely go back on it now that those symptoms are more under control.

    I’m trying to do other things for my health, like taking probiotics, eating well, getting the house water tested, going to a podiatrist (chemo took a few toenails!) and to the chiropractor (who asked if I had cut off my hair, haha). I am also doing an online course called Radical Remission which is awesome. A few of these things I have used extra donation money for, so thank you all so much. Fewer people will be frightened by my toes this summer, thanks to you all!

    Keytruda should start by the end of the year, I am counting down.

    Highlight of the month is being allowed to swim again. I love taking the kids to the pool 🤍

    Pic is the back of my not so bald head!

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  • Next treatment is underway

      13 September 2024
    Posted by: Amanda Broughton

    I finished radiation three weeks ago now, and I’ve just passed the worst of the side effects. My skin has been sore, itchy and peeling from the burns, but not painful as I’m very numb in that area after surgery. Silver linings!

    I have started oral chemotherapy which I will be on for about 12 weeks. This makes me feel nauseous, and has a whole lot of other side effects but I think I will handle it well. After that finishes, I get to start Keytruda! I just signed off on the quote from the hospital for it. All $103,429.00 of it! It is pay as you go, but I accepted that quote today so it truly feels like treatment is getting closer.

    I feel very happy 😊 Thanks again for helping me to get here. I can’t imagine how much harder this would all be without your support.

    Amanda ⛰️☀️

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  • August Update - a clear PET scan!

      8 August 2024
    Posted by: Amanda Broughton
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    This month I started radiation therapy, it is daily so I’ve done 7 of 15 sessions already. My PET scan came back showing no evidence of disease spreading, which is a massive relief. I have been losing a lot of sleep over that one!

    I do have some areas of concern on my skin, and this uncertainty means I don’t quite know when I will start immunotherapy. I will need a biopsy after radiation to decide next steps.

    The rugby match in Nightcaps was an absolute dream. I am so relaxed and feeling hopeful about the future. Thanks again for helping me to get to this place, I’m grateful every single day.

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  • HUGE THANK YOU! Drug funding goal met :)

      24 July 2024

    Kia Ora koutou!

    Thanks to the generosity of everyone who has donated to this page, & the Southland community fundraiser for Amanda- our fundraising goal for Keytruda immunotherapy has been met. Amanda, as well as her whānau & friends are incredibly grateful & relieved that she will now have access to this medicine.

    Amanda will continue to post updates on this page of her treatment journey if you wish to keep following along.

    Ngā mihi ki a koutou!

    Emily

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  • I can get Immunotherapy!

      24 July 2024
    Posted by: Amanda Broughton
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    Thank you so much to everyone for helping us out. With donations to this page, and an incredible auction run by Laura Koot and Brittany Johnson, we can cover the cost of Keytruda, amazing!

    How am I? Mentally I have been up and down, anxious about new symptoms. All going to plan I have a bone scan on Monday to rule out metastasis, and then begin three weeks of radiation. I feel like myself, I have hair again and I can run. Can’t ask for more than that.

    We are all really looking forward to the rugby game this weekend and spending time with family and friends that we haven’t been able to see since treatment started.

    Thanks again for being there for us, I can’t describe how much stress it takes away knowing that we have another option for treatment.

    Love you all and have a great day today, do something that makes you feel good 😊

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  • Luckiest person in the world right here

      3 July 2024
    Posted by: Amanda Broughton

    I can’t find the words to thank you all enough. So blown away. These past 7 months since being in cancer treatment have been the hardest and best of my life. I feel so much love and it makes me feel like I will need to live a few more years yet to radiate all that love back out!

    I am so humbled by the support we have received. Life has changed drastically for us, and being able to fund immunotherapy gives me hope for some smoother sailing in the future. I don’t have many options for treatment and it means so much that you’re all making this one possible for me. Love to you all

    Amanda xx

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  • Nearly 1/2 way to our goal- THANK YOU

      29 June 2024

    Thank you so much for your donations everyone- Amanda, her whānau & everyone who loves her is overwhelmed by the enormous outpouring of support she has received over the past couple of days. We are nearly halfway to our fundraising goal to cover her immunotherapy treatment 🙌🏽 what seemed like an impossible amount feels like it is within reach, & that is all down to your support and generosity. Ngā mihi ki a koutou x

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