A Bay area woman is thanking a once experimental drug for helping to save her life.
Last year, Darlene Gant was dying of breast cancer. From her bedside, she made an online plea for the trial drug Pertuzumab.
At that time, the drug hadn't been approved by the FDA, but Gant believed the treatment could help her.
"We should get the drug for compassionate use," Gant said, during a YouTube video. "There's no reason not to."
After Gant's video went viral, the company reluctantly agreed to give her the medication for compassionate use. Since then, Gant said it's kept her alive.
"The drug was working immediately," Gant said. "Within 30-45 days my tumor markers were dropping like 30 points, 40 points. It was amazing. It was truly a miraculous result for me."
Shortly after Gant started taking Pertuzumab, the FDA approved the medication and changed the name to Perjeta. Gant said she doesn't care what's on the label.
"I do believe if I didn't receive the Perjeta, I wouldn't be here," Gant said.
The medication stops or slows the growth of breast cancer by targeting the abnormal HER-2 Receptors in someone's body. Those receptors can replicate and cause cancer to spread. Gant's doctor said the drug has reduced Gant's tumors by 80 percent.
"I was surprised at how much better she did get given how sickly she was when she started the treatment," said Dr. Susan Minton, a Breast Cancer Oncologist at Moffitt Cancer Center.
She said Gant is truly a success story.
"As an oncologist, we're just ecstatic over a case like this," Dr. Minton said.
Meanwhile, Gant has used her new-found energy towards her non-profit, H.O.P.E. The organization serves as a support group to help others with cancer.
Gant will also be speaking about her experience at 7 p.m. at Keystone Community Church in Lutz on Monday, August 26th.