Government Funding For Herceptin in New Zealand

Trastuzumab (commonly called Herceptin), is not a miracle cure, but rather a breath of hope for thousands of women in the early stages of breast cancer. By working to inhibit the growth of HER2 cells that cause the spread of the cancer, it increases the survival rates of women struck down by this horrible disease by up to 35\%. However, in New Zealand the cancer has to have reached an advanced stage before the drug is funded by the government, and the costs for the treatment in earlier stages can run as much as $100,000 per patient.

Recent reconsideration of the drug's support by Pharmac has resulted in them rejecting the consideration to cover the treatment for a full 12 months - as is standard in most countries of the developed world! Instead, funding only covers a meager 9 months of treatments, forcing women to foot the cost of the bill themselves, which many of us simply dont have the money to do.

As one of the thousands of people in New Zealand and millions worldwide affected by the of breast cancer in all its horror, I say that this simply isn't good enough! If the government can afford to spend millions of dollars building new stadiums, it can surely afford to save the lives of its loyal taxpayers in return for their years of service. This decision simply cannot wait to be yet another election promise to be bandied about and eventually forgotten - by that time, the lives of the women who need it now may be forfeit.

What is the cost of saving a human life? What is the cost of easing suffering? Why are the lives of the poor worth less than the lives of the rich, who can afford to bandy about $60,000 to save their lives? Why must we, the common folk of New Zealand, die painfully while the government wastes taxpayer dollars on things far less valuable than a single human life? What are we worth?

Everything, to the ones that we love. This isn't another political football to be kicked about - this is about human lives at stake! Pass this petition to everyone you know, so that we can make Parliament hear out voices - fund Herceptin now. Save those lives. Were worth it.

For more information on Herceptin and other related information, consult the Breast Cancer Network here: http://www.breastcancernetwork.org.nz/pages/herceptin_FAQ.html