Left: Hallam breast cancer sufferer Kathy Levanic has called on the Federal Government to fast-track drug Herceptin on to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Ms Levanic (front) with Maree Bissels and Holt MP Anthony Byrne have 17,726 signatures supporting the cause.
By Rebecca Fraser
A HALLAM breast cancer sufferer has sent a stern message to Prime Minister John Howard that she needs a potentially life-saving drug soon.
Mother-of-two Kathy Levanic has called on the Federal Government to have the drug Herceptin fast-tracked on to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) as a matter of urgency.
In three-and-a-half months 17,726 people have signed a petition calling for the treatment to be made available to early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer sufferers through the PBS.
Herceptin is known to significantly reduce the risk of breast cancer returning, but is only available on the PBS to advanced HER2-positive breast cancer sufferers.
Ms Levanic, 40, was diagnosed with breast cancer in June last year, has since undergone nine Herceptin treatments and has another nine to go.
She will soon return to full-time work.
Due to public generosity Ms Levanic has received donations totalling $50,000 to fund her treatment, but her family will still have to pay more than $12,000 out of their own pockets.
Following her diagnosis, Ms Levanic’s cancer specialist advised her that Herceptin was her best chance of survival.
Both she and Yarra Valley cancer sufferer Maree Bissels have been busy collecting signatures to try and provoke the Federal Government to act and make Herceptin more readily available.
Ms Levanic said the petition’s message was loud and clear.
“I want to send a message that the Government needs to fund Herceptin quickly and now. Not just for me but for all the people who cannot afford it.
“I am lucky to be receiving the treatment. A lot of people are not,” she said.
This week Holt MP Anthony Byrne will table a petition in Federal Parliament in addition to the 10,467 signatures that were presented in February.
“The tremendous support for fast-tracking Herceptin on to the PBS shows that our community believes breast cancer sufferers must have access to treatments that give them the best chance at life,” Mr Byrne said.
It is estimated that more than 3000 people in Australia are diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer each year and Mr Byrne said it was a national disgrace that breast cancer sufferers had to mortgage their homes to save their lives.
On 5 July the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee will meet to recommend whether Herceptin will gain PBS listing.
It has been reported that Herceptin might not be available as a subsidised PBS drug until December.
This, Mr Byrne said, would simply be too late for many breast cancer sufferers.
“Having Herceptin possibly listed on the PBS by December is not fast-tracking. It has to be assessed, listed and available to breast cancer sufferers much more quickly.
“It would be a tragedy to see any woman miss out on Herceptin because the listing process was too slow,” he said.
