A lymphoma medication has been added to the PBS, opening more treatment options for North Queenslanders
A woman who has spent seven months thousands of kilometres away from home receiving treatment for lymphoma says a medication being added to the PBS will make the lives of regional Queenslanders easier.
Townsville
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Thousands of regional Queenslanders will have better access to lifesaving treatment, with a lymphoma medication listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
From May 1, Epkinly, a prescription medication used to treat diffuse b-cell lymphoma, also known as DLBCL, will be added to the PBS.
DLBCL is an aggressive type of blood cancer which starts in b-cells, a type of white blood cell, and is known to spread quickly.
Mount Isa woman Janelle Stuart-Russell has been living with DLBCL since mid 2024, and said it has impacted all areas of her life.
“Everything stopped basically,” she said.
“It’s a little bit like sitting in a dodgem car, and some kid comes and rams you and you just about fall out of your dodgem car.”
Ms Stuart-Russell spent seven months in Townsville for treatment, and received help from her children during her stay.
She said Epkinly being added to the PBS would greatly improve options for people in her situation.
“To be expanded and broadened [treatment] would be great for people in rural and remote areas,” she said.
Townsville University Hospital haematologist Dr Joel Wight said there’s close to 2,000 DLBCL cases in Australia each year, and said expanding Epkinly will benefit patients in regional QLD such as Mount Isa.
“Where we are in North Queensland, we’ve got a very geographically diverse population,” he said.
“We can’t give the type of chemotherapy that you need for an aggressive lymphoma anywhere.”
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Originally published as A lymphoma medication has been added to the PBS, opening more treatment options for North Queenslanders
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