'I was going downhill fast': breast cancer drug gives new lease on life

Mayfield's Madelaine Atkins has a new lease on life from a drug trial that aims to treat advanced breast cancer.
She's been part of the FINER clinical trial through the Newcastle-based Breast Cancer Trials for three and a half years.
It aims to keep metastatic breast cancer under control for longer.
"I feel fantastic. It's created a quality life and freedom for me," said Ms Atkins, 67.
"Before I went on the drug trial, I was going downhill fast. My weight was dropping and I was feeling sick and weak."
The trial enrolled 250 female and male patients with "advanced ER-positive and HER2-negative breast cancer".
The results showed that the addition of the drug ipatasertib to standard treatment "controlled the progress of metastatic breast cancer for almost three times as long".
"The main objective of this study was to examine whether treatment with ipatasertib plus fulvestrant was better than fulvestrant alone."
Associate Professor Andrew Redfern, chair of the FINER trial, said the results were "significant for these patients with advanced disease".
"It could potentially help up to 1500 people in Australia every year who are diagnosed with this type of breast cancer," A/Prof Redfern said.
"We now need to confirm these results with longer follow-up of the patients on this trial, as well as further research."
Ms Atkins was diagnosed at age 50.
"I did chemotherapy, radiation and breast removal," she said.
"When I was 60, the little devil came back. It was in my shoulder and started to go up my neck."
FINER is a "double-blind placebo-controlled randomised trial".
"You don't know which one you get [the drug or placebo]. But here I am, touch wood, in fabulous health with no complaints. It has truly been a blessing to me.
"I'm a very positive person. My ethos was I'm not finished yet, so let the game begin."
As part of the trial, she receives an "injection in my bottom" each month at Lake Macquarie Private.
"We're very lucky to have such great nurses and doctors in Newcastle, let alone Australia," she said.
"They'll do anything they can to make your journey that little bit better."
She said her partner's support and staying social helped her health journey.
"I've been fortunate not to need to work, so I've gone into semi-retirement.
"We get away every couple of weeks. It adds that life balance. I'm blessed with great family and friends.
"I've enjoyed my life. There's nothing I'd want for except a nice life expectancy."
She said there was an upside to going through health challenges.
"It shatters you to hear those words [a cancer diagnosis], but it's a strange thing how it can be a blessing," she said.
"It wasn't like I got hit by the 207 Merewether bus. If you get hit by a bus, you never get to say goodbye."
She said early intervention was key.
"I rubbed my neck and it felt like a little pimple the size of a pinhead," she said.
"Get it while it's timely and we've got a chance. Let it get to the size of a pea and it's a bigger battle. Get to a strawberry and it's a longer journey."
Mayfield's Madelaine Atkins has a new lease on life from a drug trial that aims to treat advanced breast cancer.
She's been part of the FINER clinical trial through the Newcastle-based Breast Cancer Trials for three and a half years.
It aims to keep metastatic breast cancer under control for longer.
"I feel fantastic. It's created a quality life and freedom for me," said Ms Atkins, 67.
"Before I went on the drug trial, I was going downhill fast. My weight was dropping and I was feeling sick and weak."
The trial enrolled 250 female and male patients with "advanced ER-positive and HER2-negative breast cancer".
The results showed that the addition of the drug ipatasertib to standard treatment "controlled the progress of metastatic breast cancer for almost three times as long".
"The main objective of this study was to examine whether treatment with ipatasertib plus fulvestrant was better than fulvestrant alone."
Associate Professor Andrew Redfern, chair of the FINER trial, said the results were "significant for these patients with advanced disease".
"It could potentially help up to 1500 people in Australia every year who are diagnosed with this type of breast cancer," A/Prof Redfern said.
"We now need to confirm these results with longer follow-up of the patients on this trial, as well as further research."
Ms Atkins was diagnosed at age 50.
"I did chemotherapy, radiation and breast removal," she said.
"When I was 60, the little devil came back. It was in my shoulder and started to go up my neck."
FINER is a "double-blind placebo-controlled randomised trial".
"You don't know which one you get [the drug or placebo]. But here I am, touch wood, in fabulous health with no complaints. It has truly been a blessing to me.
"I'm a very positive person. My ethos was I'm not finished yet, so let the game begin."
As part of the trial, she receives an "injection in my bottom" each month at Lake Macquarie Private.
"We're very lucky to have such great nurses and doctors in Newcastle, let alone Australia," she said.
"They'll do anything they can to make your journey that little bit better."
She said her partner's support and staying social helped her health journey.
"I've been fortunate not to need to work, so I've gone into semi-retirement.
"We get away every couple of weeks. It adds that life balance. I'm blessed with great family and friends.
"I've enjoyed my life. There's nothing I'd want for except a nice life expectancy."
She said there was an upside to going through health challenges.
"It shatters you to hear those words [a cancer diagnosis], but it's a strange thing how it can be a blessing," she said.
"It wasn't like I got hit by the 207 Merewether bus. If you get hit by a bus, you never get to say goodbye."
She said early intervention was key.
"I rubbed my neck and it felt like a little pimple the size of a pinhead," she said.
"Get it while it's timely and we've got a chance. Let it get to the size of a pea and it's a bigger battle. Get to a strawberry and it's a longer journey."
Mayfield's Madelaine Atkins has a new lease on life from a drug trial that aims to treat advanced breast cancer.
She's been part of the FINER clinical trial through the Newcastle-based Breast Cancer Trials for three and a half years.
It aims to keep metastatic breast cancer under control for longer.
"I feel fantastic. It's created a quality life and freedom for me," said Ms Atkins, 67.
"Before I went on the drug trial, I was going downhill fast. My weight was dropping and I was feeling sick and weak."
The trial enrolled 250 female and male patients with "advanced ER-positive and HER2-negative breast cancer".
The results showed that the addition of the drug ipatasertib to standard treatment "controlled the progress of metastatic breast cancer for almost three times as long".
"The main objective of this study was to examine whether treatment with ipatasertib plus fulvestrant was better than fulvestrant alone."
Associate Professor Andrew Redfern, chair of the FINER trial, said the results were "significant for these patients with advanced disease".
"It could potentially help up to 1500 people in Australia every year who are diagnosed with this type of breast cancer," A/Prof Redfern said.
"We now need to confirm these results with longer follow-up of the patients on this trial, as well as further research."
Ms Atkins was diagnosed at age 50.
"I did chemotherapy, radiation and breast removal," she said.
"When I was 60, the little devil came back. It was in my shoulder and started to go up my neck."
FINER is a "double-blind placebo-controlled randomised trial".
"You don't know which one you get [the drug or placebo]. But here I am, touch wood, in fabulous health with no complaints. It has truly been a blessing to me.
"I'm a very positive person. My ethos was I'm not finished yet, so let the game begin."
As part of the trial, she receives an "injection in my bottom" each month at Lake Macquarie Private.
"We're very lucky to have such great nurses and doctors in Newcastle, let alone Australia," she said.
"They'll do anything they can to make your journey that little bit better."
She said her partner's support and staying social helped her health journey.
"I've been fortunate not to need to work, so I've gone into semi-retirement.
"We get away every couple of weeks. It adds that life balance. I'm blessed with great family and friends.
"I've enjoyed my life. There's nothing I'd want for except a nice life expectancy."
She said there was an upside to going through health challenges.
"It shatters you to hear those words [a cancer diagnosis], but it's a strange thing how it can be a blessing," she said.
"It wasn't like I got hit by the 207 Merewether bus. If you get hit by a bus, you never get to say goodbye."
She said early intervention was key.
"I rubbed my neck and it felt like a little pimple the size of a pinhead," she said.
"Get it while it's timely and we've got a chance. Let it get to the size of a pea and it's a bigger battle. Get to a strawberry and it's a longer journey."
Mayfield's Madelaine Atkins has a new lease on life from a drug trial that aims to treat advanced breast cancer.
She's been part of the FINER clinical trial through the Newcastle-based Breast Cancer Trials for three and a half years.
It aims to keep metastatic breast cancer under control for longer.
"I feel fantastic. It's created a quality life and freedom for me," said Ms Atkins, 67.
"Before I went on the drug trial, I was going downhill fast. My weight was dropping and I was feeling sick and weak."
The trial enrolled 250 female and male patients with "advanced ER-positive and HER2-negative breast cancer".
The results showed that the addition of the drug ipatasertib to standard treatment "controlled the progress of metastatic breast cancer for almost three times as long".
"The main objective of this study was to examine whether treatment with ipatasertib plus fulvestrant was better than fulvestrant alone."
Associate Professor Andrew Redfern, chair of the FINER trial, said the results were "significant for these patients with advanced disease".
"It could potentially help up to 1500 people in Australia every year who are diagnosed with this type of breast cancer," A/Prof Redfern said.
"We now need to confirm these results with longer follow-up of the patients on this trial, as well as further research."
Ms Atkins was diagnosed at age 50.
"I did chemotherapy, radiation and breast removal," she said.
"When I was 60, the little devil came back. It was in my shoulder and started to go up my neck."
FINER is a "double-blind placebo-controlled randomised trial".
"You don't know which one you get [the drug or placebo]. But here I am, touch wood, in fabulous health with no complaints. It has truly been a blessing to me.
"I'm a very positive person. My ethos was I'm not finished yet, so let the game begin."
As part of the trial, she receives an "injection in my bottom" each month at Lake Macquarie Private.
"We're very lucky to have such great nurses and doctors in Newcastle, let alone Australia," she said.
"They'll do anything they can to make your journey that little bit better."
She said her partner's support and staying social helped her health journey.
"I've been fortunate not to need to work, so I've gone into semi-retirement.
"We get away every couple of weeks. It adds that life balance. I'm blessed with great family and friends.
"I've enjoyed my life. There's nothing I'd want for except a nice life expectancy."
She said there was an upside to going through health challenges.
"It shatters you to hear those words [a cancer diagnosis], but it's a strange thing how it can be a blessing," she said.
"It wasn't like I got hit by the 207 Merewether bus. If you get hit by a bus, you never get to say goodbye."
She said early intervention was key.
"I rubbed my neck and it felt like a little pimple the size of a pinhead," she said.
"Get it while it's timely and we've got a chance. Let it get to the size of a pea and it's a bigger battle. Get to a strawberry and it's a longer journey."

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