My name is Karen Heaven and I too have had Her2 Breast cancer.

I was diagnosed in Oct. 2005 with a 35x20x15mm tumour.  I chose to have a partial mastectomy, a breast reconstruction and the other breast reduced to match.  Shame the rest of the body didn’t look as good as those two “boobs” did after the surgeon had finished with me!!

Because my lymph nodes were also involved I had chemotherapy as well as radiotherapy.  I was a pretty fit 56 year old, who played golf and was an active tramper, and I do think that had a lot to do with how I coped so well with my treatments.  I also kept up my walking for as long as I could.  I now give advice to other cancer sufferers who are having chemo to do what I did and “roll” with the chemo, don’t fight it. 

It was after the Radiotherapy that I got involved in the Herceptin angle.  A visit to an Oncologist in Auckland resulted in a quote of $107,000 for my treatment.  Fortunately I am of Scottish extraction and after a few questions and answers to some other people in the health profession, I ended up with a quote from Palmerston North and consequently flying down there every three weeks for my treatment.  A careful note of all my expenses including airfares brought a grand total of just over $74,000, a saving of over $30,000 on the original quote.  It sure does pay to shop around.  My care at Palmerston North was just magnificent, and I used to enjoy my little “day off” to have my Herceptin fix.  On fine days I even walked from the Airport into Palmerston North, and if I had time I even walked back as well.  On rainy days I wasn’t so virtuous!!

I was very disappointed to learn that the Oncologist who quoted me the $107,000 was on the Advisory Board to Pharmac regarding cancer treatments.  

To date I am well, fit and happy to be alive. I have done so many things with friends and family.  I have welcomed three more dear little grand-daughters into the family, I have walked more tracks and planning another, I have kept my golf handicap at its pre-cancer level, and just last weekend went with my husband and another couple to Mokau to eat whitebait fritters, just for the hell of it.  And through everything I have tried to keep my sense of humour, as I truly believe a good belly-laugh at least once a week is good therapy.  I’m voting for the Party that promises to fund Herceptin for all the women who are destined to follow me down this path.  Nobody should have to pay that sort of money for their health treatment when so much Government money is wasted on silly trivialities such as “Hip-Hop” trips. 

Regards to all who read this message, and to anyone who is about to go through this treatment I offer my best wishes for a healthy recovery.