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Most of us are familiar with Herceptin® – the medicine that transformed the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer in the early 2000s. Herceptin® is the brand name for this drug which is supplied by pharmaceutical company Roche. Trastuzumab is its generic name.
Roche’s patents on Herceptin®/trastuzumab expired in Europe in 2014 and in the United States in 2019. Now a number of copies of this medicine – called trastuzumab biosimilars – have been developed by other companies and are on the market. With several competing products available, their prices are highly likely to be lower than for the original drug.
The Advanced Breast Cancer Global Alliance, of which BCAC is a member, has joined with other international cancer groups to call for a global plan of action for cancer to meet the challenges of COVID-19 and future pandemics or health crises (see link).
As international research continues to unravel the complexity of breast cancer and its many sub-types, a steady stream of exciting new medicines targeting each type comes to market. Some countries adopt and publicly fund these quickly, but New Zealand does not. Government spending on medicines per capita is lower in New Zealand than in most OECD countries and access to new medicines remains low and slow.
Breast surgeon Dr Eva Juhasz has recently finished a study of the current treatment of elderly breast cancer patients in Waitematā DHB.
A new research project here in New Zealand aims to explore how women with mastectomies and breast reconstructive surgery experience their bodies, particularly focusing on the roles that bras, breasts and body image play in their lives after surgery.
Busting With Life dragon boat team had a very successful Regionals competition on the 14th March at Lake Pupuke Auckland, winning bronze in the 200 m and 500 m races and a gold in the 2 km.
As with sports all over the country, lockdown caused a premature end to their season this year but they're looking forward to getting back together as soon as possible to start training for the new season.
BCAC has joined an international effort to improve and extend the lives of women and men living with advanced breast cancer (ABC). The ABC Global Alliance was formed in 2016 by the European School of Oncology and is a non-profit organisation based in Portugal. ABC Global Alliance’s president Dr Fatima Cardoso visited New Zealand in 2019 and was very helpful in our push with Metavivors NZ to get better access to medicines for treating advanced breast cancer.
Article supplied by Pinc and Steel Cancer Rehabilitation
"Whilst life as we know it has been put on hold, cancer rehab needs are not, and recovery can continue." Denise, Pinc&Steel Physiotherapist
Kenzie's Gift provides individual therapy packages for children and young adults experiencing grief and loss after a bereavement or diagnosis of serious illness within the family. We now have 11 therapists providing our community services nationwide and have recently launched a trio of resources designed to support children and parents during emotional and traumatic times of loss. The Memories are Forever packs are available online here https://www.kenziesgift.com/grief-loss/memories-are-forever-packs/ and can be ordered in hard copy too by contacting Kenzie's Gift.
A clinical trial that could significantly improve quality of life for women with moderate arm lymphoedema is underway in Hamilton.
