How a breast cancer trial changed the lives of survivors

Donna Rullo was one of the first people in Australia to access trastuzumab through a clinical trial in 2001. ( Supplied: Donna Rullo )

Donna Rullo wasn't going down without a fight.

It was early 2001, and then-40-year-old Ms Rullo had just been diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer.

Up to one in five cases of breast cancer are HER2-positive, which means the cancer cells have higher than normal levels of human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) protein, promoting growth of the cancer itself.

It's an aggressive and fast-growing cancer, but typically responds well to targeted treatments.

When Ms Rullo was diagnosed, targeted treatments weren't an option in Australia.

But 25 years ago, she took a leap of faith and joined a drug trial that changed the course of her life, and that of countless women after her.

More than two decades after having it cut off, Donna Rullo still has her hair in this same gold box. ( Supplied: Donna Rullo )

本文の著作権はABC Australiaにあります。