MUM’S PLEA
ANNE MacLean-Chang looks like a normal doting mum as she bundles up her boys and heads off on another adventure.
She enjoys weekends away with her kids, day trips here and there and special moments like seeing them in the school nativity.
On top of that, she’s kept busy with the usual hustle and bustle of family life. In short, Anne lives a normal life. But six months ago, her outlook was far bleaker.
She had just received news that her breast cancer had spread to her liver and she was entering the final stage of her life.
Anne’s specialist at world-leading cancer hospital the Royal Marsden in London said her only chance of buying more time was with the drug Kadcyla.
It has been shown to extend life by six months on average. And in the US, some women are still alive five years after starting Kadcyla.
But the drug is not routinely available on the NHS in Scotland.
Despite her specialist’s recommendation, two Scottish health boards refused Anne’s pleas to provide the drug.
Her only option was to buy Kadcyla herself, so she began fundraising.
But after the Record highlighted Anne’s plea to Nicola Sturgeon, the First Minister stepped in and the mum was offered the drug by NHS Grampian.
She began a course of Kadcyla in August – and it has changed her life.
The tumour in Anne’s liver has shrunk from 2.2mm to 0.5mm and there is hope it may shrink further.
In addition, Kadcyla has fewer side effects than other treatment options, so Anne is enjoying her precious time with husband Winston and sons Natham, eight, and Ollie, six.
She said: “Physically, I feel well. I have had mild discomfort once or twice and mild nausea about the same amount. Other than that, I have had no side effects of the drug. “Physically, I lead a very normal life. Without Kadcyla, I would have had a greater possibility of more nausea and fatigue. “I can do exactly what I did before
the cancer. I just have to spend two hours in hospital every three weeks.
“Without Kadcyla, we wouldn’t be doing nice day trips or weekend trips. Being able to turn up to the kids’ Christmas show was a highlight.”
Anne feels passionately that other women in her position – those with a incurable form of HER2-positive breast cancer – should get the drug