Time for a new treatment

Thanks for your post Michelle

I don't doubt that there is work going on - as you said unfortunately it is painstakingly slow.  We are fortunate to have clinical trials happening - I would like to see access to trials becoming easier in a country that is so widespread - I fear that many rural women do not get to access trials as easily as us city dwellers. I frequently look at the trials website - there is also a victorian one - http://www.cancervic.org.au/trials/ which often lists different trials also.  On the link that you mentioned - there are currently 39 open trials nationally listed.  It would be great to see more happening for women with triple negative disease and inflammatory BC.  

It goes beyond trials though to those working in the labs. I currently have tumor tissue being tested by a lab in Queenlsand (government) - it is assisting the lab to develop testing which gives more detailed analysis of tumor tissue and hopefully guides treatment decisions with more accuracy - it is in R&D phase and these scientists are reliant on NHMCR funding - they also have some funding from the NBCF.  Currently the testing that they are doing on my tumor tissue costs on average $10-15K per patient.  My Mum is actively fund raising in Queensland for fund to go directly to this research project. This type of testing may lead to more individualised treatment in the future rather than the statistical roll of the dice used currently.

As I said before - I believe it is a change in rhetoric that is required and a refocus of intentions on finding a cure.  So sadly your mother passed away in 1990 - 12 years later we still are no closer to a cure for stage 4 disease.  I am so happy that fewer women get to stage 4 disease but for those that do, we still have no answers.  

I am a part of the review groups and regularly read the research - you have to be informed to be your own best advocate.

Maybe by the time my girls are my age - there will be an answer. - I certainly hope so.

Amanda x