Join our campaign to have ribociclib and palbociclib subsidised in Australia

am waiting with bated breath!!! even if it is only on the pbs for first line treatment, then its a start and just maybe in time to come will be available to all, the letter I received from my MP was very disappointing it was put up online for me by rosie in case any one wants to read it, the gist of it was that the government does not interfere with any decisions by the pbs, so as you can imagine did nothing for my confidence in what may happen, still I can hope, roll on the 20th of april, then the government has to agree to subsidise it I believe!
Wendy55

Cross your fingers Girls, I received the same letter from my local member, Darren Chester. Hoping for the very best, Trace xxx

Hi all!  I collected my mail this arvo and found a copy of a letter on my behalf from Greg Hunt, Minister for Health - 20 April is the date for public to know the result of March meeting for PBS

Hi @iserbrown,
That's correct - the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) sat on the 20th of March but we won't know the outcome until the 20th April. If the PBAC recommends that the drugs be listed, it then has to go to cabinet for approval; hence all the letters you have all been writing to your local members.
We'll keep you posted!

@Marianne_BCNA 

Did I hear or read somewhere that this was going up for consideration in March, or is that wishful thinking?

Received a copy of a letter sent on my behalf today from my favourite MP.

Hope everyone else is receiving letters of encouragement

Here's to a successful outcome!

Hello @sunandsaltwater, I was at the seminar last year at the Poche Centre where you gave your story, very inspiring. Glad to hear you are doing well!

Hello @sunandsaltwater
Thank you for your post, im sure we can facilitate contact with Lisa and will speak with Marianne on Tuesday when back in the office.  It was a great article with Lisa Laird.  Great that you have written to your local member Malcolm Turnbull.  We are keen to get as many letters to local members as possible!

I've had a successful 23 months on palbociclib so far, and have been very very lucky with it.
I was on Channel 9 news a year ago and yesterday, I saw BCNA's Facebook post showing Lisa Laird on Channel 7 news in Cairns - well done, BCNA and Lisa Laird! Hope you have more success this round than we did last year!
I'd like to get in touch with Lisa to compare notes if she is willing. Lisa could you contact me if you're reading this, or BCNA, could you please facilitate this?
Anyway, my local member is Malcolm Turnbull, and his computer has acknowledged receipt of this letter I sent yesterday:

Subject: Urgent request, for PBAC meeting in March

Dear Malcolm Turnbull
I am a resident of Bondi Beach in your electorate
I am writing to ask your support to have two important new breast cancer drugs subsidised by the Australian Government. I myself have metastatic breast cancer and have enjoyed 2 years of good quality of life SO FAR by accessing palbociclib.
Before palbociclib was made available in Australia in July last year, I spent personally approx. $120,000 to obtain it from overseas. (It cost almost $10,000 per month)
I was one of the few lucky ones who could afford it, having access to my superannuation.
At last, it is available in Australia. However most women cannot afford to try it, as it costs almost $5000 per month within Australia.
Ribociclib (Kisqali®) and palbociclib (Ibrance®) belong to a new class of drugs called CDK inhibitors. They are used to treat people living with a particular type of metastatic (advanced) breast cancer, and have been shown in clinical trials to extend the length of time before the cancer spreads by up to 26 months. 
They are taken as tablets and do not cause common cancer treatment side effects such as hair loss and nausea, so people using them have a good quality of life.

Currently these drugs are subsidised in many other countries, including the USA, the UK, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Israel, Lebanon, the Gulf states and Argentina, however they are not yet available through Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). The cost to purchase them is around $5,000 per month.
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) is considering both of these drugs at its March 2018 meeting. If they receive a positive recommendation from the PBAC, they will require approval from the Federal Cabinet before they can be added to the PBS.

As my local Member of Parliament, I ask you to raise this issue with the Health Minister, the Hon. Greg Hunt, and your colleagues in the Federal Parliament to ensure these drugs are listed as quickly as possible. 
Australia is lagging behind and Australian women and men who could benefit from this important new treatment are missing out.

Should you require any further information about the CDK inhibitors, please contact Kathy Wells, General Manager Policy, at Breast Cancer Network Australia – kwells@bcna.org.au or 03 9805 2562
With thanks

Hi all,
Thought you might be interested in this great article regarding the fight to have Palbociclib listed on the PBS. Hopefully this will lead to more publicity!

Got a response from my local Federal Member, Milton Dick, the Federal Member for Oxley. He said that he will raise the issue with the Health Minister at the earliest opportunity.