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Verzenio now available on PBS for Metastatic Breast cancer
arpie
Member Posts: 8,116 ✭
Comments
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Wow fantastic news.
i currently pay $7000 per month for this drug.0 -
Fantastic, @Palmbeachprincess - make sure you mention it to your Onc ...... and double check with your chemist next time you get your meds ....
With my husband 10 years ago, his own chemo treatment went from $25000 a year to $10 a set, due to it coming onto
PBS. He still had to 'sort it' thru the chemist before it was administered to him.
All the best with your treatment xxx0 -
Hi arpie, I saw that in the paper today and I was wondering if it will only be available for those as a first line of treatment for metastatic breast cancer. I am on Fulvestrant Injections monthly and this treatment may also be beneficial. I will have to ask my oncologist.,especially if it is on the pbs.2
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Fingers crossed @wendy_h67 - I didn't see where there were 'conditions attached' - so hope you are covered xx1
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Good news - I couldn't find any conditions (other than being premenopausal and having MBC) also. So I am sure it will be available irrespective of what line of treatment. I have now been on Verenzio for 13 months (accessed through a trial) and no sign of progression yet. However, I am the only one from my hospital and on the trial that is still taking Verenzio. Around half the women came off due to side effects and the other half had progression (although only a small number on the trial anyway). They think I am doing better than the others because my tumour burden was a lot lower at the start of the trial. I was actually in remission from taking capecitabine but the hand and foot side effects were very debilitating, so my oncologist thought she would try me on Verenzio to give my hands and feet a spell. The more drugs we have in the 'toolkit', the better off we are!!!7
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I just checked
Same conditions as other new drugs
under restriction it states
only for those who have not been on a AI
So only for those who are designated first time diagnosis as Metastatic
Very disappointing!!!!1 -
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@brightspace, It makes you feel alienated, just because we have been on other treatments and still trying to fight this horrible disease, they dont want to know us. I have been fighting metastatic breast cancer for 8 years and guess I'm passed my use by date. I was asked by a specialist, "" how much longer do you expect to live. " He wasn't a very nice person and it made me more determined than ever to keep on fighting. Lately I think the cancer is winning and I'm not too worried. I just live one day at a time.2
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Hi wendy you are a fighter I have followed your journey since being diagnosed in 2016
I have been on the US site yes they can access these new drugs some women get a good run seems that its one to two years if they are lucky
Then they try another new
drug
Here in Australia it seems that new diagnosed mets patients will only get one chance ..then when that fails you will probably have to pay the big bucks
Thanks for your comments
Bright in hope1 -
Sorry to hear that the same restrictions have been applied to Amebaciclib as to Ribociclib. They will eventually be put on the PBS for women like us. Not fair I know, but hang in there! My oncologist is an active clinical researcher, so I can usually access the newer drugs through a clinical trial, so have been lucky not to have to pay the big bucks as yet. If for some reason I can't get access through a trial, I can always fall back on Xeloda or Afinitor which worked, but which I stopped due to side effects. Not as easy for others I know.
Eight years Wendy - great effort! I hope there is many more years for you!2 -
It saddens me that the drugs are not available to all needing them, whether or not they have had other treatments. Surely life is important at whatever stage ?
Whoever makes these decisions has not been part of our world.
Maybe part of our criteria for an onco is that they are also involved in trials so we can be part of them.
All the best.1 -
We really need a 'disappointment' emoji re things like this
I was not aware that there were restrictions when I put it up.
Yes, @Summerhill38 - everyone's life should be considered equally important ....
@Lisa1407 - I hope they DO make it more available to those who need it, because it just isn't fair if it isn't. 1 -
saw my oncologist today.
im on abemaciclib as my second line of treatment. The cost has been reduced from $7000 to $4000. Which is definitely an improvement but not the $40 I was hoping for..... oh well, my house is now sold so can afford to pay and keep myself alive l! Xxx1 -
Can someone clarify for me;
are the CDK4/6 inhibitors available on PBS for those who develop stage 4 disease who were treated with an AI in early stage?
Im confused regarding the wording.
Thanks.0 -
I think it depends on how your oncologist interprets it. I saw my usual one who suggested I would have to pay. Then I went for a second opinion, and it was thought you could interpret it as no AI after the met diagnosis. So worth a try. We all should have an opportunity to try it.2
