As if the emotional, physical, and financial toll of a cancer diagnosis isn't enough, we are now facing the loss of access to a medication that many of us rely on: Zoladex 3.6 mg.
I have been receiving monthly Zoladex 3.6 mg injections since November 2024 to suppress hormones that could potentially feed any remaining cancer cells in my body. Recently, my breast care nurses and oncology team reassured me that the 10.8 mg formulation has shown positive outcomes for breast cancer patients, which was encouraging to hear.
What I wasn't prepared for was learning from the breast cancer community that the 10.8 mg injection is not currently covered by the PBS.
Life after cancer is already incredibly expensive. I spend more than $100 each month on medications, can only work 2–3 days per week due to ongoing cancer-related fatigue, and have been declined financial support on multiple occasions. For me, and for many others, being forced to pay significantly more for a treatment recommended by our medical teams would create even greater financial hardship.
Cancer survivorship doesn't end when treatment finishes. Many of us continue to live with the long-term physical, emotional, and financial impacts of our diagnosis every day. Access to the most appropriate treatment should not depend on a person's ability to afford it.
Please sign and share Ashleigh's petition. This is a fight for all of us who rely on Zoladex and deserve affordable access to the treatments that support our ongoing recovery.