Why can't our early-stage HER2+ women get the treatment they need?

SUCCESS!!!

The Herceptin Riders sought, in March this year, to lend some heavy weight to supporting those who have tried to make this issue a political hot potato. In taking the bikes to parliament in high profile with a THIRD petition for the last government, we did what we set out to do - we helped to get Herceptin Funding on the political table.

As expected, PHARMAC and the labour government dug their toes in, and steadfastedly refused to be swayed. The National party pledged to the New Zealand people that if they were to be elected, they would make it a top-table priority to fund the full course of Herceptin for those whose lives stand to be prolonged as a result.

National HAVE won the general election, in a solid victory, and have reiterated their intention to override PHARMAC and get the Herceptin fully funded, in line with the vast majority of other developed nations.

That was the result we needed. Whichever way we had to get to it, its there. By Christmas, hopefully, the burden of having to remortgage their homes and compromise their long-term security to fund Herceptin will not be an issue for the next round of HER2+ women.

Well done to all those kiwis out there who have lent their weight, their energy and their belief, in ways too many to mention, to making this happen.