Cancer woman makes reach for a life-saver

By Rebecca Fraser
CASEY residents have been urged to support a petition to help early-stage breast cancer sufferers afford life-saving medication.
Hallam mother of two Kathy Levanic was diagnosed with HER-2 positive breast cancer in June this year and has been desperately trying to raise funds to access the drug Herceptin.
The drug is known to significantly reduce the risk of breast cancer returning, but is only available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) to advanced HER-2 positive breast cancer sufferers.
Ms Levanic said Herceptin would therefore cost early-stage sufferers between $50,000 and $70,000.
Her cancer specialist has advised the 39-year-old that Herceptin is her best chance of survival.
She has now urged the public to sign the petition, which calls on the Government to fast-track the drug on to the PBS for early-stage HER-2 positive patients.
Ms Levanic said she had cancer in nine lymph nodes and had had 15 removed.
She said she had discovered a lump in her breast after reading about Australian pop singer Kylie Minogue’s plight.
“I keep positive and strong in front of the kids.
“I tell them it is in the early stages but that the cancer could come back and that is why I need this drug,” she said.
Ms Levanic is due to start her Herceptin treatment three days before Christmas using money received through donations.
Ms Levanic said she needed to take Herceptin every three weeks and would require 18 doses at a cost of $3800 a treatment.
She said Roche, which produced the drug had now offered early stage breast cancer sufferers three free doses of the drug reducing the total treatment by about $10,000.
“You do not need the money up front and with Roche it will come down to about $58,000.
“I hope to have $35,000 to $40,000 raised by next month and that will leave me with about $18,000 to go,” she said.
Federal Member for Holt Anthony Byrne will present the petition to the House of Representatives and said it would be a tragedy to see any woman miss out on this drug.
“We must ensure that drugs listed on the PBS are proven safe and effective. In this case the assessment process needs to be completed quickly for the benefit of women with early stage HER-2 positive breast cancer,” he said.
Emerald resident Jean Hayne has also called for Herceptin to be included on the PBS following her 46-year-old sister Maree Bissel’s personal struggle with the disease.
Ms Bissel is a grandmother and mother of three who also suffers from early stage HER-2 positive breast cancer.
Mrs Hayne said the drug should be available to all women.
“These women are mothers, wives and partners and the Government needs to get their priorities right.
“This is a life-and-death financial situation,” she said.
There will also be a fete in Cranbourne on Sunday, 18 December at Donnelly Reserve from 9am to 3pm to raise funds for Ms Levanic.
A New Year’s Eve dance will also be held at the Potters Pool Hall in Dandenong and tickets cost $20.
Anyone wishing to make a donation can send money to PO Box 1169, Dandenong 3175 or donate at a Westpac branch to the Kathleen Levanic Herceptin Appeal.
People interested in donating to Maree Bissel can contact Anthony Byrne’s office on 9796 7533.