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My doctor is a firm believer in mammograms at your 40th birthday, just to give you a benchmark she said – so I duly complied and all was fine. Six months later my breast changed shape, no lump and a marginal call; but something made me go back to my doctor. Five days later, instead of jumping on a flight to Greece for a catch-up with family I found myself in hospital having a mastectomy.
Hi, my name is Linda Crowden, I am 61, I have three sons, one daughter and four grandchildren.I live in the Bay of Islands with husband Roger, my youngest son Tor 19 and daughter Tara 17, plus numerous pets. Roger & I are bookbinders and we have a small museum.
My name is Andrea Fairbairn and I have just turned 40. I live in Wellington and work in a Government Department. I was one of those healthy people – didn’t drink or smoke, vegetarian, exercised regularly and had no cancer in my family.
I'm Sue Walthert. I was a 52-year-old GP, happily married to Edi, mother to Emma, 25 and Jeremy, 24. Edi and I lived on 5 acres of land with 3 sheep (plus 5 lambs this spring) and one neurotic dog, 10 minutes’ walk from the main street of Dunedin. We were living the good life and Her 2 positive breast cancer was something that happened to other people, to my patients, but not to me!
My name is Rose.
I am 68 years old and have been married to Barry for 47 years. We have three sons aged 46, 45 and 44. I have lived a normal, healthy life (other than a hysterectomy in my early thirties after which I was put on HRT). I had some low times, and went through a lot of personal stress in the eighties and early nineties.
Hi. I’m Chris Walsh and I live at Waitarere Beach, a small village between Levin and Foxton. My partner Sue and I have a beautiful black Labrador called JJ and two cats that control activities in the house but still refuse to do housework. I work at Victoria University in Wellington and this year graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing.
My name is Nicola Russell - I'm 35, and I immigrated to New Zealand in 1997 from the shores of Carlingford Lough in Ireland.
Kia ora, Boogie to my friends, Belinda to everyone else. I’m 34 years old with a 16 month old son to my partner Bryce. The three of us live in the Kapiti Coast area – where life by the sea couldn’t be any better. We recently moved out of Wellington City in search of what we all dream about, work/life balance. So far so good, I blame it on the sea breeze and the view of Kapiti Island from our beachfront property.
Herceptin and HER2-positive breast cancer
Herceptin is a targeted therapy for HER2-positive breast cancer.
HER2 stands for human epidermal growth factor 2, a protein located on the surfaces of cells involved in controlling cell proliferation. Breast cancer tumours that have higher-than-normal levels of HER2 are said to be ‘over-expressing’ this protein, and are referred to as HER2 positive. About 23% of breast cancers are HER2 positive.
Herceptin (generic name: trastuzumab) is a drug designed to lock onto and shut down the HER2 protein. Its molecular structure is based on an antibody that can precisely target the HER2 protein. Herceptin is a ‘biological drug’; it is manufactured using laboratory-cultured cells.
Breast cancer survivor and advocate honoured
The Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition is thrilled its chairperson, Elisabeth Burgess (Libby), has been recognised in the 2011 New Year’s Honours.
Ms Burgess has become a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her work with women, their families and communities affected by breast cancer.
The Coalition’s deputy chair, Dr Chris Walsh, says the award is well-deserved.
“This recognises Libby’s passion, dedication and determination to improve the lives of women with breast cancer.
“She has been a tireless advocate for a world-class health system in New Zealand which offers the best detection and treatment of breast cancer available.
