Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women, and while treatment is becoming more advanced, many still struggle to afford life-saving medication.
This Breast Cancer Awareness month, in October, women are driving change through online petitions aimed at raising critical awareness and funds for life-or-death breast cancer treatment.
In Spain, a petition led by Victoria Rodrigo, who has metastatic breast cancer, has gained over 156,000 supporters under the banner “Without treatment, we die”. Rodrigo’s petition has culminated in a victory that will provide access to therapies without the heavy financial burden.
For patients with metastatic breast cancer, two life-extending drugs, Enhertu and Trodelvy, have been approved by the Interministerial Commission on Drug Prices (CIPM).
The decision has come after four rejections, bringing new hope to women in Spain facing this aggressive form of cancer, offering extended survival times of 23 and 14 months, respectively.
Meanwhile, here in Australia, a 39-year-old mother of two from Hervey Bay, Queensland has also been fighting for access to life-saving treatment.
Brandi Allsop has been battling triple-negative breast cancer for over three years. She has undergone numerous rounds of treatment, including five chemotherapies, one immunotherapy, 30 days of radiation and eight surgeries.
Nevertheless, her cancer has returned, and now she urgently needs a life-saving drug called Lynparza (Olaparib).
This drug is not yet covered by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and time is running out. She needs $78,000 per year to access this medication to survive.
“When people say they would die for their children, I ask, imagine fighting to LIVE for them. That is what I have been faced with doing for nearly 3 and a half years. Fighting to stay alive to raise my boys and watch them grow up,” says Brandi.
Within her petition, Brandi details one of “the worst days” of her life, in order to share the reality of not knowing whether she will be able to afford the medication she so desperately needs.
As a mother, she and her husband Shane had to sit her two boys down one night and explain to them that she had cancer and could potentially die.
“It’s a blur of emotion, to be honest,” she writes. “Cody collapsed in my arms, hugging me, begging me not to die. Jack was very sombre and quiet.”
“I told Shane to prepare for Jack’s emotion later when he decided that he wanted to talk about it.”
“As a parent, it will go down as one of the worst days of my life.”
“Please help me to continue my fight to watch my boys Cody & Jack grow up.”
Her petition has garnered over 19,000 signatures in a month, calling on the Australian government to urgently list Lynparza on the PBS to make it accessible for all who need it.