Friends and family of Christchurch mother have formed an inspiring “Fight for Tash” campaign to help her fight triple-negative, invasive, and progressive grade 3 breast cancer.

Triple negative breast cancer is a type of breast cancer that does not have any of the receptors commonly found on breast cancer cells – oestrogen, progesterone or HER2 receptors. 

Around 15% of all breast cancers are triple negative according to the New Zealand Breast Foundation.

The “Fight for Tash” campaign has attracted support from A-list stars, thanks to her close friend with entertainment industry contacts, bringing hope and encouragement to Natasha as she embarks on treatment.

“I have an amazing wee network who have pulled together some really out there items” Natasha said.

Natasha, a devoted mother to her two children Max and Mila, has found solace and inspiration in the overwhelming response to her diagnosis.

Ringo Starr of The Beatles, Liam Gallagher, and Harry Styles, as well as sporting legends from Formula 1 and the Premier League, and comedy icons have rallied behind Tash’s fight and donated memorabilia on an online auction.

The goal is to raise funds for her immunotherapy, a treatment not funded in New Zealand, with a target of $100,000.

The auction, hosted on the Galabid page, is set to conclude in two days, while the raffle items will continue until September 19th, coinciding with the planned end date of Natasha’s six months of chemotherapy and pre-surgery.

Some items start at just $10.

All physical items can be shipped internationally, allowing supporters to participate regardless of their location.

Additionally, the tickets to concerts, experiences, and shows are UK-based, presenting a great opportunity for those looking to gift them to friends or family overseas.

What is Triple-negative breast cancer?

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is breast cancer that tests negative for all three receptors (oestrogen, progesterone, and HER2). About 15% of breast cancers are triple-negative. This type tends to occur more commonly in pre-menopausal women and people with a faulty BRCA1 gene. New Zealand statistics show that Pacific, Maori and Asian women have a higher incidence of triple-negative breast cancer than Caucasian women .

People with TNBC don’t benefit from treatment with tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors, or Herceptin as the cancers lack the receptors which these treatments target. There are currently no specifically targeted treatments for this form of breast cancer although many new drugs are being investigated in clinical trials. Treatment consists of surgery, chemotherapy and often radiation therapy.

In most cases, TNBC is very responsive to chemotherapy, which can be given either before or after surgery. Triple-negative disease has a higher risk of recurring outside the breast in the first two to five years but a lesser risk after five to eight years compared to other forms of breast cancer.

Download The Triple Negative Foundation’s PDF:
Guide to Understanding Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Source: Breast Cancer Foundation New Zealand