After originally being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007 at the age of 37, Sam received the news at the end of September that it had returned in her liver. Secondary breast cancer is not curable, however it is treatable and although Sam has been devastated by this news and its impact on their family, they have been encouraged by the speed in which the NHS has responded to her situation. Sam has already underdone chemotherapy.

Sam was advised by her oncologist that alongside a combination of Herceptin and chemotherapy a new drug Pertuzumab would be best the best option. However Pertuzumab is not available on the NHS in Wales, although it is available routinely in England on the NHS.

Having applied to the Health Board’s Individual Patient Funding Request Panel (IPFR), and been turned down, Sam is looking to appeal the decision, and have also written to our AM Rebecca Evans and MP Byron Davies for support with this.

We have decided that we do not have the luxury of time to wait for any decision on this drug, so in the short term Sam has used what savings they had to fund at least the first three treatments. The initial loading dose costs £5,000 and every subsequent treatment will cost £3,000. She had her first infusion of Pertuzumab on Friday 21 October.

So in the short-term whilst still reeling from the diagnosis and the implications this has for her family, we have decided to start fundraising. Sam has been loving and living life for the past 9 years and she intends to keep doing so, we plan on organising #100 fun things to do with the help of our wonderful friends.

We realise that Pertuzumab does not offer a miracle cure, however it gives me hope that Sam could have months or years of extra time with her husband and son.

If you feel you could help, by donating, we would be eternally grateful.

Love

Emma

xxx

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