A drug that elongates life in breast cancer patients listed on PBS today - but only for some
Same disease, same new drug, but only women newly diagnosed with metastic breast cancer will get access to the PBS-listed drug Kisqali as of today — others will have to pay $5000 a month.
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THEY are two women from the same city who have exactly the same deadly disease.
But while Anna Cattalini qualifies for a new drug that can extend the lives of women suffering from metastic breast cancer, Kerry Rogers does not.
From today the drug known as Kisqali is listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) bringing hope to women like Mrs Cattalini, a 50-year-old mother-of-three, who would otherwise have to pay around $5000 a month for the treatment.
However, because only those newly-diagnosed can gain access to Kisqali, other sufferers like mother-of-four Mrs Rogers, from Campbelltown, are not so lucky.
She misses out because she has had the disease for two years.
“It is so unfair, I was over the moon when I heard it was being listed, I’ve got four sons and grandchildren and I thought it would give me more time,” the 60-year-old said.
“This is the last treatment left to hold it off, the next step is chemo until you die basically. I’m at the point of deciding if I pay the money, but I don’t know if I can afford it.”
Mrs Cattalini, from Mount Vernon, was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer just four days before her milestone birthday last September.
It is so unfair ... I thought it would give me more time
Abdominal pain turned out to be secondary tumours around her colon.
She was given Kisqali as part of a trial and her symptoms, which included stomach bloating and pain, have diminished.
“I’ve been on it since October and I’m getting much better on it. I believe it will prolong my life and I hope there is going to be more research to find a cure,” she said.
She will now receive the drug through the PBS.
A recent trial found Kisqali extended the length of time before the cancer spreads to 25.3 months on average, compared with 16 months.
“It stops the cancer from having uncontrolled growth but it is not a cure. We are treating women with an incurable disease so it is about prolonging life,” Associate Professor Elgene Lim, breast cancer clinician researcher at the Garvan Institute and St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney, said.
He said the drug had been approved on the PBS for the most common form of breast cancer, known as hormone receptor positive breast cancer.
This represents around 70 per cent of all breast cancers.
Breast Cancer Network Australia CEO Kirsten Pilatti said today was a day to celebrate.
“No woman newly-diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer will miss out on access to this drug,” Ms Pilatti said.
“We now hope that this scheme will extend to those women in later line treatment who could also benefit from Kisqali.”
Health Minister Greg Hunt said placing the drug on the PBS would save lives.
“Kisqali was a breast cancer medicine virtually no woman could afford, costing patients more than $70,000 a year. Now it’s available for as little as $6.40 for concessional patients,” Mr Hunt said.
He also urged an application to the PABC for use of Kisqali for women already suffering metastic breast cancer.
“If the independent medical experts approve it then my commitment is to list it on the PBS,” he said.
Novartis, the makers of Kisqali, has already provided compassionate access for some patients but is awaiting the results of clinical trials to further open up the scheme to sufferers beyond the newly diagnosed.
During this year’s Budget, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said listing the drug would cost $703.6 million and that 3,000 Australian patients would benefit.