Help Sam get a non-funded drug treatment for leukaemia
Sam is raising money to fund a non-pharmac approved chemo drug that has shown real promise in trials to fight leukaemia.
Auckland
Sam first got leukaemia in 2012, had 4 rounds of chemo and had a 6 month remission. Then relapsed and had 2 high-dose rounds of chemo, followed by a donor stem cell transplant in January 2014. She then got 3 years remission, only to have it relapse again in November 2016. She did high dose vitamin C for 5 months before blasts entered the bloodstream. Having done 2 rounds of low-dose chemo she achieved remission again, but it hasn't lasted. Now the best chance of achieving remission and having it stick is a drug called Venetoclax which is not pharmac approved as yet for Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. We are going to find the first $19,500 and are also going to our health insurer to maximise what we can get from them, but what they will cover is minimal compared to the cost because its not pharmac-approved. It is probable that if this drug helps, Sam may need to take a maintenance dose longer term and this could cost upwards of $60,000 a year.
Sam is a fighter and also has always responded well to treatment in terms of remission and this drug may help keeping the remission as it lights up the cancer cells so they can be seen by the immune system and also flicks the switch off on cancer cells being able to live longer than normal cells and replicate. The US has fast tracked the drug and has marked it as a breakthrough medication, so we have no choice but to give this a go!
One of Sam's children has developed a significant health issue over the last few years that will take some time to recover from and as a Mum she is determined to be here to support her child back to health.
We don't like asking people for money, but we do want Sam to live as long as possible so she can be with her family and this appears a promising option for achieving that. All amounts are appreciated no matter how small. Together we can make more miracles possible!
Funds will be raised to pay for the Venetoclax chemo drug over however long we need it or until it does become pharmac-approved and covered by health insurance.
Use of funds
If that drug does not work I will use money for high dose vitamin C to prolong life and improve quality of life. Any funds not used for venetoclax (or failing that high dose vitamin C), will be donated directly to the Haematology Daystay unit at Auckland Hospital through my specialist, as this unit is very under resourced and used by many patients from throughout New Zealand for long periods of time during their chemo and post-transplant treatment.
Other page links
Latest update
Many thanks - let the chemo begin! 15 October 2017
Great news - after this round the drug company has granted compassionate funding for my drug based on the fact Im 45 and 20 years younger than anyone else who has had the drug in Australasia, so they are keen to know how it goes, and all the wonderful donations from my Give a Little page has raised enough to pay for this next round and a little high dose vitamin C after we finish the chemo. This is great news as whatever comes in the future they will cover it, although of course it still needs to be medically justified. Thank you so much for all the donations - I am truly humbled by all the help, many from people I havent met but know my friends and family. Roll on round 2 of chemo!
Latest donations
Who's involved?
Page Q&A
Ask a question hereAny concerns?
Report this pageThank the donor
Your message will be displayed on the page and emailed to the donor.
Your new message will also be emailed to the donor.
Saving a blank entry will delete the current comment.