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Patients diagnosed with a rare and deadly form of cancer will receive cheaper access to life-saving treatment next month after a federal funding decision.
Oral Treatment of Mantle Lymphoma, Which Affects About 30 Western Australians are one of four anti-cancer drugs that will be available as part of the August 1 Pharmaceutical Benefit Program.
The $ 250 million investment means that people with MCL who pay up to $ 134,000 to shell out only $ 6.40 per script. Imbruvica tablet treatment once a day targets, reduces and in some cases kills cancer cells.
Dr. Chan Cheah, consulting hematologist at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, said the announcement was meaningful to patients. effects such as hair loss, high risk of infection and nausea. He said the cost of Imbruvica had already put him out of reach for most patients. "The government grant means a therapy that extends the lives of people who would not otherwise be able to afford it," says Dr. Cheah
. The treatment works extremely well and is essentially effective in patients whose lymphoma has returned after treatment. with chemotherapy. "
Seven out of 10 people respond and it has very few side effects.This is an important announcement."
MCL is a type of rare and aggressive lymphoma that usually starts in the lymph nodes immune system around the neck, armpits and groin, but can spread to other tissues. such as bone marrow, liver, spleen, gastrointestinal tract and even the spine and brain. The average survival is from one to two years.
Dr. Cheah stated that Vic Dennis, a patient from Perth, who was diagnosed in October and immediately started chemotherapy, was responding well to similar treatment with Imbruvica and would benefit greatly. 19659003] What Mr. Dennis had returned from a cruise in the picturesque Kimberley of WA while what he thought was a sore throat was diagnosed as something much more sinister
"C & # 39, was like having an avocado stone in the throat.
The 75-year-old returned to play tennis and golf every week and was yesterday at Optus Stadium to support the Fremantle Dockers. He said the grant would reduce financial stress for already anxious patients to fight an insidious disease.
"I made the mistake, when I was diagnosed, to go see Dr. Google and read about the Cel Coel Lymphoma. 19659003]" This was not the case. was not a very nice read because the survival time was not very good and I thought I would hit the wall. But then I saw some of the costs and they were astronomical. "
The other three lists under the subsidy are Opdivo, Neulasta and Pegasys.
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