Jenna vs the Evil Chickpea ROUND 2

Kia ora koutou,

My name is Jenna Bone, and in July of 2019 I was diagnosed with aggressive, grade 3, triple positive breast cancer. I was 26 years old and a little shook!

18 months on from this *surprise* and I am counting my blessings. I have completed chemotherapy, radiation, and drug treatments. My family, friends, and workplace have been amazingly supportive. I have good days and bad, but am fortunate that the good really do outweigh the not so good.

A lot of people think that now the initial, intensive treatment is done I am finished. Unfortunately, we're not 100% sure cancer is done with me yet. My oncologist has said that the first 5 years after my initial diagnosis is the most dangerous time, and I am not out of the woods yet.

That is why I am asking for your help.

My breast cancer is triple positive, which means it feeds on estrogen, progesterone, and HER-2 (a growth hormone). I will be on estrogen and progesterone inhibiting drugs for the next 5 years - but I have finished the funded HER2 treatment (Herceptin). There is another treatment available to fight against HER-2 - but it is currently unfunded.

Neratinib is a drug designed to help women with breast cancer - specifically it significantly reduces the chances of cancer returning in the the five years following diagnosis. It targets the HER-2 hormone. exactly the area I need help in. My oncologist has strongly recommended I take this treatment, as I am very high risk (always was an over achiever) and the benefits of this medication should be even greater for me - something like a 30-40% decrease in the likelihood of a cancer recurrence.

I will be on Neratinib for 12 months. It costs $6,900 per month. The drug company are charging for 3 months supply, and then supplying the rest of the year free of charge, so the total cost is $20,700.

I am also lucky enough to have health insurance who will be covering roughly two thirds the total cost.

So all up, I will be paying $7,180 - not an insurmountable amount, but still a significant cost.

Any money raised through this Give a Little will go directly towards paying for this treatment. Absolutely any help I receive is so deeply appreciated - any little bit helps and I am really, truely grateful for all the love and support I have already received.

If you want to check out my blog chronicling my journey vs the evil chickpea (our nickname for the little lump I found in my left boob), here is the link - https://www.facebook.com/Jenna-vs-the-Evil-Chickpea-103811320970983