With ref to the comment from "TS" I have had Family involvement and seen Sonya throughout all her trauma. Let me tell you there is nothing misleading about her story, The second round of Chemo ( another 7 mths) absolutely knocked her, the combination of both Herceptin and Chemo stopped the cancer growing but it was several months later after continuing with the Herceptin that the tumors started shrinking. It is true that Herceptin will only work on HER2 cancer which is the most aggressive and not everyone is a suitable candidate. There are side effects to nearly every drug on the market. How can you say the money could be better spent elsewhere. Surely she should be allowed to have the chance to live and she is living life to the full, Sonya you go kick some ass girl
Walk a mile in Sonya's shoes and consider what she must be going thru before making other recommendations. She was given only a fews months to live. Sonya and her whole family had done everything prior to Herceptin and this is what has worked. She has been working (sometimes 3 jobs at a time) in NZ and around the world since she was 16 and always has a positive thought and contributes anyway she can. It is so wonderful to see someone no matter how bad things might be to have a glass half full attitude than glass half empty.
Instead of pharmaceutical drugs that only have chemical side effects, completely natural Essential Oil (one of many) frankincense would assist greatly. I have cured my cancer using this oil, despite the use of drugs.
Herceptin should be available to all women who need it; it's outrageous that women have to fight for this right. We seem to have a flood of people coming into our Country needing healthcare, but we can't look after our own people as it is. The Government needs to take stock and sort out the issues we already have, before taking on others that we can't afford. When we have a surplus of money, then we can look at opening the door to NZ.
This is a really misleading story without some real facts from professionals who matter. I would like to hear their side of the story. Hearing on the tv that if you are rediagnosed twice with breast cancer you are allowed free herceptin is something I have yet to hear about, being in that same category and first diagnosed under the age of 40 and rediagnosed with it 2 years later. I have been in trials for this drug and it can be very dangerous to your heart long term and can cause other health problems. I was told by oncologists, and is confirmed via studies, that herceptin does work best with chemotherapy.How does Sonia know that it is only Herceptin that is keeping her alive, what do oncologists say, the full story has not been shown as we do not know if this is due to other drugs, remission and is very one sided. I would not want to be on this drug for longer than one year due to the side effects and feel that the money could be spent elsewhere for other reasons as per other drugs needed to keep some people alive and they paying for personally (not via fundraising).
I'd rather my taxes paid to keep Sonya alive. Than endless payments to lazy, non productive members of our society, that spend their handouts from the govt on/or drugs, cigarettes and alcohol.make govt handouts limited...If you are given vouchers for petrol,groceries,childcare,clothing, uniforms...Then you have to give something in return.you have to give something to start with.Allie