Hi, it's health reporter Lauren Roberts back with your weekly news update.

This week, I spoke with Donna Rullo, who took a leap of faith 25 years ago that changed the course of her life, and the lives of countless women after her.

Donna was diagnosed with an aggressive and fast-growing cancer called HER2-positive in 2001, which typically responds well to targeted treatments.

But there weren't any targeted treatments in Australia back then.

Determined to see her son grow up, Donna joined a clinical trial for trastuzumab, now the most common HER2-targeted therapy offered to patients in Australia.

This trial went on to show that taking the drug for a year "significantly improves long-term disease-free survival" for patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer.

And 20 years ago today, the drug was added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, making it more affordable and accessible for thousands of Australians.

This week has also brought good news for bookworms.

My colleague Rose Kerr unpacks how reading fiction has unique benefits for language and empathy, giving me yet another reason to stop by the bookstore on my way home.

And it's your last chance to vote for your favourite Australian books. Radio National's Top 100 Books poll closes at 7pm AEST tonight!

Read on for more health stories and podcasts. If there's anything you'd like us to cover, send us an email.

For all the latest in health, check out our dedicated health page, catch us on Instagram, or browse our Health & Wellbeing collection on ABC iview.

And if you'd like to get more mental health stories in your inbox, check out our monthly newsletter featuring the latest episodes of All In The Mind and stories from the ABC.

Twenty-five years ago, Donna Rullo joined a trial for a little-known, targeted breast cancer drug that saved her life and transformed the care of women who came after her.

What happens in your brain when you read? And can it help you navigate real life? This is what science tells us.

While the study of death records across 500 occupations is US-based, experts say the finding could be similar in Australia and suggest more radiation monitoring of airline crew is needed.

Doctors and pharmacists criticise Eli Lilly's new online platform, LillyDirect, which will dispense certain medicines, starting with Mounjaro, directly to a patient's door.

The first phase of the NDIS alternative for some kids under nine with developmental delay and autism begins today.

As people on TikTok share negative views and misinformation about hormonal contraception, the algorithm rewards the engagement these videos generate.

Joe Fa'agase is one of only 14 people in Australia with the blood type Jk null. Now, new Australian research aims to create lab-grown blood at scale for use in such patients.