Cancer victory

By Tania Martin
A FORMER Emerald woman who has spent the last seven months fighting to have the cancer drug Herceptin fast tracked on to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) shed tears of joy last week after it was finally approved.
Health Minister Tony Abbott last week said that the drug would be available on the PBS for the treatment of patients with HER-2 positive early stage breast cancer from Sunday, 1 October.
Maree Bissels, a former Emerald resident, has been fighting for Herceptin’s inclusion on the PBS register for the last seven months with a campaign that saw her collect almost 30,000 signatures.
Holt MP Anthony Byrne, who supported Mrs Bissels throughout her campaign, said it was because of women like Maree that the drug was fast tracked.
The fight to have Herceptin fast tracked started in November last year when Mrs Bissels started a petition campaign at the same time as she was undergoing chemotherapy.
At the time, Mrs Bissels told the Mail that it was unfair that she not only had to fight cancer but also had to fight for the medication that she needed.
She started the petition campaign after being told by her oncologist that Herceptin, a drug that would help prevent the onset of secondary cancer, was only available to women and men with terminal cancer.
Herceptin costs $70,000 per year, but the Federal Government had not budgeted for its inclusion on the PBS register until 2008.
However, in a little over seven months Mrs Bissels has fought and pushed for the Federal Government to fast track the drug and with the help of thousands of Australian she has won the battle.
Mrs Bissels said although she was elated by the news of the PBS listing she was now feeling exhausted from months of fighting to fast track the drug.
“It’s like running a marathon and you final reach the finish line,” she said.
Mrs Bissels who started her Herceptin treatment in February by using her life savings and borrowing money from her parents has spent more than $44,000.
She was also told last week that the three treatments that she needs before 1 October will be paid for by Roche the pharmaceutical company that manufactures Herceptin.
Mrs Bissels said the months of collecting petitions was well worth the effort because now all the men and women who couldn’t afford the drug would be able to access the treatment.
She said it was with the support of everyone who signed and handed out petitions that has helped to fast track Herceptin on to the PBS.
Gembrook MP Tammy Lobato, who also supported Mrs Bissels campaign, said that she welcomes the decision and congratulated Mrs Bissels and her family who have been instrumental in creating public awareness about this issue.
However, Ms Lobato said it was a shame that Mrs Bissels had to sacrifice time that should have been spent with family and for healing to lobbying for medication instead.
“I have been pleased to support her efforts and the end result is a long-awaited outcome for cancer patients and their families,” she said.