Herceptin study involving NZ women reveals survival rates

Survival rates for women taking Herceptin for breast cancer are similar whether they take a short or long course of treatment on the drug. That's the result of a long-awaited study involving New Zealand women being published in the US today. Drug-buyer Pharmac faced intense debate over its decision in 2007 to fund nine weeks of the costly drug, not a year. The National government over-turned the decision, funding Herceptin for a year, which continues. Pharmac's chief executive Steffan Crausaz, told RNZ health reporter Karen Brown the slight advantage of a full year's treatment has to be weighed against the risk of side-effects.