Help Colette beat Breast Cancer!
Help Colette beat breast cancer by raising money to get her access to an unfunded immunotherapy drug.
Masterton, Wellington
Colette has Triple Negative Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. Triple Negative is difficult to treat because it has no receptors for estrogen or progesterone hormones or HER2 protein and is the most aggressive of breast cancers and is more likely to spread beyond the breast and return after treatment.
Until recently, the only treatment has been chemotherapy, surgery and radiation. However, there have been a series of trials overseas on an immunotherapy drug called Pembrolizumab which has shown can significantly increase a TNBC patient’s chance of a total response to treatment.
The treatment would commence with the 3rd chemotherapy dose and a further 3 doses (4 in total). Unfortunately as this is not yet publicly funded in NZ, each dose is over $8,000 NZD.
Anna Rutherford's involvement (page creator)
Colette is a friend and colleague.
Use of funds
Pembrolizumab - a not yet funded immunotherapy drug.
Latest update
“Oh- we’re halfway there!” 11 October 2023
Hi everyone!
We’ll I’m still here and still chugging along!
I’m now past the halfway point with both chemo and immunotherapy. I’ve completed the first part of the chemo drugs which included a cocktail of flouracil, epirubicin and cyclophosphamide. After that, I’ve moved on to what my oncologist calls “the big guns”, which is docetaxel and carboplatin. I’ve now had two immunotherapy rounds which I get by going over to Palmerston Nth, every 3 weeks (on the Tuesday before chemo).
As strange as it may seem, throughout all of this, the main feeling I have is gratefulness. I really feel I have been so lucky in how everything has gone for me.
My family has been amazing.
I have one of the best oncologists in the country who readily answers texts and questions.
I have a lovely team of oncology and chemo nurses (6 of them) who make the treatment experience positive. There are all of you, who have been so generous in helping me lift some of this financial strain.
My work has been very supportive in helping me stay at work, but on a reduced load.
I don’t mind my bald head anymore!!!
Chemo reactions haven’t been as bad as I thought they would be.
And my TUMOUR HAS ALREADY SHRUNK by over 60%!
I’ve done a lot of spiritual rumination and have discovered that despite facing terrifying circumstances, I’m reminded by how much love there is. I’m surrounded by it, and want to spend every day embracing that!
Thank you. Xxxx
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