Join our campaign to have ribociclib and palbociclib subsidised in Australia

I wrote to my Federal member, Darren Chester, who sent me a letter advising that he will make a representation to the Minister for Health, so cross your fingers ladies

Dear @wendy55 , Hope your scananxiety is relieved tomorrow. I have to follow up my letter (sent by email) as I have had no reply either - I'll ring Mark Coulton's office now.

thank you so very much, I have yet to receive anything to even say mine has been received!!! I will be ringing shortly to at least find out if it has been read ! Get my scan results tomorrow after ct with contrast yesterday , scananxiety already at high level! trying to keep distracted, dont hold out for much sleep tonight, it would be wonderful if this drug went on the pbs and everyone with metastatic cancer could access it {me included}

Wendy55

Just to say I have written to MPs and Senators and today received a letter from Senator James Paterson to say he is making representation on my behalf to Greg Hunt the Health Minister and will be in touch 

Please if you can keep lobbying 

Sent my letter  Lending my Support to Sue Dunlevy, Journalist and the atached article has popped up in papers today.  Hereunder is my response to article which had gone on Facebook:-

I am a cancer survivor for 12 years and I firmly believe that I am here because of new anti-body technology, Herceptin and now Kadcyla. I look forward to seeing new technologies such as these fast tracked. Cancer patients do not have time to wait. Conventional regimes of chemotheraphy can be antiquated and cruel, and at worst, ineffective. I am watching this space with great interest these technologies can give quality of life, enabling cancer survivors to remain part of mainstream society, continue to work and be a contributor to society. Current cancer regimes interrupt one's life significantly due to down time and terrible side effects, having diabolical consequences on people's ability to continue working and living a normal life.

I believe the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme personnel are meeting this week to consider new technology drugs. I for one hope that CDK inhibitors Ribociclib (Kisqali) and Palbociclib (Ibrance) become available for my fellow breast cancer survivors so they too can have the benefits and hope for a good life that has availed me.

Australian cancer patients need, expect and deserve timely access to the latest cancer drugs under a system that is fair, equitable and in a sustainable way.

Thank you

Karen_C
Cancer survivor 12 years

perthnow.com.au — CHEMOTHERAPY could become a thing of the past for up to two in three cancer patients with the government looking at subsidising breakthrough new immunotherapies across multiple cancers. The medicines called programmed-death ligand 1 (PDL1) therapies — like Keytruda which dramatically extended the life of Liberal Party fundraiser Ron Walker, and Opdivo — use the body’s own immune system to fight cancer.

Hello @ wendy55,
Thank you for posting your amazing letter which has been written from the heart and from your personal experience.
I agree, it is such a powerful message.

@rosie thank you for putting this up, This is the letter that I have forwarded to Mr.Rowan Ramsey my Federal MP for the , seat of Grey in South Australia, nothing has changed medically(Yet) and I really don't know if I could have written another letter along those lines, it was written from heart and I did not change a thing,
thank you,
wendy55

@wendy55 has requested my high tech computer skills to upload the letter she wrote last year to The Federal Health Minister. Just like the letter from @Karen_C it is heartfelt and powerful. Thanks for sharing @wendy55

I have also forwarded my letter  to Mark Coulton MP. The suggested formats were easy to modify.

Have just fowarded a letter to my Federal MP, and his personal assistant was able to tell me that several others have been  sent to him as well, so we can only wait in hope!!!

wendy55