Anthony Albanese, Peter Dutton urged to adopt new funding model to offer lifesaving cancer drugs

Qld man John Mylne forked out $60,000 for a lifesaving cancer treatment that could have cost $7.70 if he had a different cancer. Now, doctors and patients are begging for change to save lives.

Exclusive: Doctors and patients are calling on Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton to save Australians who cannot afford to self-fund lifesaving cancer treatments by adopting a streamlined funding model.

More than a thousand patients across eight cancer types would immediately gain access to cheaper immunotherapy if the next federal government agreed to the “multi-cancer” funding proposal, new analysis has found.

Cancer advocates have warned patients are “dying waiting” the 450-day average time it currently takes for a treatment to be listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, but a request to group cancer types with shared DNA indicators together to speed up assessment has been caught in red tape since 2023.

“The lack of action, when viable solutions are on the table, is deeply distressing,” Rare Cancers Australia chief Christine Cockburn said.

“It means people, particularly those with rare cancers, are waiting, going bankrupt, or dying.”

Brisbane retiree John Mylne, 70, has been battling prostate cancer for eight years and when multiple chemotherapies, radiation and other options failed was told in 2023 he was on his “last legs”.

But when a test then showed his cancer was likely to respond to an immunotherapy called Keytruda, he decided to self-fund the $60,000 two-year treatment.

It has so far been a success, with Mr Mylne now enjoying hobbies like indoor rock-climbing and riding his Indian Challenger motorcycle.

“I got my old life back,” he said.

Brisbane retiree John Mylne, 70, has been battling prostate cancer for eight years. Picture: Steve Pohlner

John Mylne, 70, at home with his motorcycle. Picture: Steve Pohlner

If Mr Mylne had cancer in the lung, kidney or bowel, he would have paid as little as $7.70 on the PBS for the three-weekly infusions.

Mr Mylne’s oncologist, Professor Aaron Hansen, said more cancer types had been showing an improvement in survival and cure rates from immunotherapy, but the challenge was getting the funding flowing for patients once the safety and efficacy of the treatment had been established.

“It’s hard as a physician to watch, knowing there are (treatments) out there that can potentially help patients that just because of funding issues, they’re not able to access,” he said.

Health Minister Mark Butler he wanted patients to get access to life changing treatments “as quickly as possible” and had been advised the multi-cancer proposal would be considered by independent health officials in July.

“I am keen to see this matter resolved in the best interests of patients,” he said.

Coalition health spokeswoman Anne Ruston – who will face off Mr Butler in an election debate on Wednesday – said the opposition was “committed to ensuring Australian patients have timely and affordable access” to potentially lifesaving medicines.

Originally published as Anthony Albanese, Peter Dutton urged to adopt new funding model to offer lifesaving cancer drugs