Generous Kiwis drum up $80k for cancer drug

Thanks to generous Kiwis donating more than $80,000, West Auckland detective Sarah Cato will start a lifelengthening treatment for her incurable cancer next week.

The mission to raise funds for ongoing treatment continues, but the mum of one can now at least get her hands on the drug that could give her more time with her family and on the front line of policing.

Cato, 35, was diagnosed with breast cancer four years ago.

Soon after she underwent a mastectomy, her doctors revealed the cancer had spread and was metastatic, or incurable. Cato was given just five years to live.

Since then she has been through a gruelling regime of chemotherapy and radiation and has been taking Herceptin to slow further cancer growth.

But she is refusing to go down without a fight and last week revealed in the that she wanted to try the drug Perjeta, which when used in conjunction with Herceptin has been shown to reduce the risk of metastatic cancer worsening.

Pharmac fully funds the drug but only for patients who have not been previously treated with Herceptin or chemotherapy.

Cato needs at least $130,000 for the Perjeta treatment.

The money will cover an initial course of the drug, at a cost of about $70,000, and ongoing infusions that cost up to $5000 each month.

Since her story ran in the on Thursday the donations have poured in — including three $10,000 deposits in 24 hours.

Yesterday afternoon she shared some good news on Facebook — she is starting Perjeta next week.

“I’ve got great, great news,” she said. “Keely [her fiance] and I met with the oncologist this afternoon and we can confirm that I am due to start Perjeta next Tuesday.”

If you can help Cato reach her goal of $130,000 for the drug Perjeta visit her Givealittle page.