Brain cancer patient pays $8K a month for drug treatment
Physicians asking province to cover drug that could prolong life of some patients
A Calgary woman with brain cancer is paying thousands of dollars a month for the drug Avastin, because Alberta doesn't cover it for her form of cancer.
"I was pretty shocked. I wasn't expecting my life to be cut off quite so abruptly," said Jan Tollefson, who was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, three years ago.
She underwent radiation, chemotherapy and two surgeries, but her tumour returned after her second surgery in March.
Tollefson's oncologist prescribed Avastin. The drug targets a tumour's ability to form new blood vessels and grow. But it costs $8,000 a month, money the Calgary physician would prefer to leave to charity.
"I'm very uncomfortable with the thought of using my money to pay for it. I mean there's so many other things in the world that I'd much rather put my money into right now," Tollefson said.
Her oncologist, Dr. Jay Easaw, has been working with the drug and is part of a group of physicians recommending that Avastin be funded for a select group of brain cancer patients as a second-line drug.
The physicians have approached the province with a request for blanket coverage.
"We're hopeful, you know really hopeful, because this is an expensive drug," said Easaw.
But Alberta Health says while Avastin has been approved for the treatment of colorectal cancer, it isn't ready to approve the drug as a second-line treatment for cancers such as Tollefson's glioblastoma.
"Decisions regarding drug coverage can be difficult and complex, and must follow an evidence-based review process," Alberta Health said in a statement.
"The Joint Oncology Drug Review Committee, a national committee of experts and practitioners, recommended not listing Avastin for the treatment of a glioblastoma because of a lack of evidence over its effectiveness for this condition," it said.