SEVERAL Orange women receiving treatment for breast cancer that has spread through their body have had a major burden lifted, with the announcement two breast cancer drugs have been added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
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Among these women is Francine Sammut, who is treated every three weeks with the cancer drug Kadcyla.
Orange oncologist, Dr Peter Fox, said this step had the potential to save Mrs Sammut and her family $17,000 a year.
“Its absolutely fantastic news,” Mrs Sammut said.
“When we had to pay we just couldn’t have done it without the support of our friends and the community,” she said.
Mrs Sammut faces the prospect of being on the drug indefinitely.
“It really is a great treatment because it doesn’t make you lose your hair or feel nauseous the way the other cancer drugs have affected me,” she said.
“My cancer is terminal, but what this drug can do is slow down the progress of my cancer.
“It has already shrunk some of my tumours which is very encouraging.”
Dr Fox said, under the previous arrangement, patients had to fund the first round of each treatment, with the supplying drug companies paying for the subsequent treatments.
He said the introduction of cancer drugs such as Herceptin, Kadcyla and Perjeta, which he is using for patients diagnosed with the more aggressive form of breast cancer, HER 2 positive, has the potential to extend and improve the quality of life for patients with this type of cancer.
“Back in the 1980s, for example, the average survival for patients with this type of cancer which had spread from the breast was 12 months,” Dr Fox said.
“Now the survival is five years, which is a huge improvement.
“By placing these drugs on the PBS it is creating a level playing field for people who weren’t in a position to be able to afford the treatment.”
janice.harris@fairfaxmedia.com.au
