Province's decision to cover cancer drug applauded
Published Wednesday November 25th, 2009
Colorectal | Avastin paid for in most provinces
Fredericton resident Andrew Goodridge says the provincial government's decision to cover the expensive cancer drug Avastin is great news, even if it took longer than he expected.
Health Minister Mary Schryer told reporters Tuesday morning that New Brunswick will cover the costs of the treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer patients after Dec. 1, and will begin developing a provincewide screening program to come online within three years.
Schryer said the coverage will extend to patients who have already begun their treatments, but only for the medications they'll need after Dec. 1. The program won't cover treatments before that date.
The province expects to spend about $3.4 million funding Avastin treatments in 2010-11.
Goodridge, who's in Toronto recovering from a life-saving surgery, has been battling colorectal cancer for months and is paying more than $1,500 per week for the drug treatment.
"I'm happy they're going to cover the drug Avastin," he said. "As you know, it's not ground-breaking news, as (Prince Edward Island) is the only province that doesn't cover the drug now.
"But I'm also very happy with the (expanded) screening program that they've proposed."
Goodridge said the coverage will improve New Brunswick's cancer treatment options, but there's still a lot of work to do.
"Avastin is only one of many cancer drugs out there," he said. "Unfortunately, a report released by the Canadian Cancer Society in September of this year shows that New Brunswick is actually still in last place when it comes to cancer drug coverage.
"So although this is a good first step, I would like to see what the minister of health and the premier has laid out for 2010."
About 540 New Brunswickers will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2009. The illness is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the province.
Avastin limits the flow of blood to the cancer cells, making it difficult for the tumour to get bigger.
Libby O'Hara has been calling for the province to make more resources available in the fight against colorectal cancer for more than a year.
She said the decision holds special meaning for her family.
"It's certainly something that's near and dear to my heart. I lost my husband on Jan. 1, 2008, to colorectal cancer, so (for) future generations, for my children, it's certainly something I'm very happy to see here in the province," she said.
"I had promised my kids that we would do something and that I would be active in helping out the (association) to have screening."
Schryer made the announcement at the Crowne Plaza Hotel during a breakfast event organized by the Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada. The news drew a standing ovation from the crowd.
She said she's met with many people affected by colorectal cancer around the province and she knows the impact these high drug costs have had on their lives.
"My heart aches for them," she said. "I said when I was made minister of health it was something I want to accomplish.
"I went to my colleagues, to the premier, and said, 'We really need to do this, and we need to do it now.' And the premier said, 'You're absolutely right.'"
Dr. Eshwar Kumar, co-CEO of the New Brunswick Cancer Network, said the decision to cover the drug's cost wasn't influenced by new medical research, but rather came down to mounting pressure.
"To be honest with you, there has been no new evidence," he said.
"I guess the fact that every other province has made it available increased the pressure on us. This is a situation where clinical practice sort of trumps evidence. It's become a common, standard (treatment) across the country and we were one of the last provinces to be able to offer it."
Kumar said covering the costs of the treatment and creating a broad-based screening program will improve New Brunswick's cancer strategy.
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