Forum Discussion
Prolia should be on PBS
Mainly for anyone who is er+ post menopausal and taking Aromatase Inhibitors but guess the more that join in the better as is a bit of a focus on bc atm with the passing of Connie and Olivia's recurrence.
As you know Aromatase Inhibitors whilst highly effective in prevention of bc recurrence do thin bones and cause fractures.Currently Prolia injections ( denosumab) are only available on the PBS price to women over 70 or those under 70 who have a fracture. Many bc ladies who are under 70 er+ and post menopausal are osteoporotic with low T scores who should not have to endure a fracture before accessing Prolia at the PBS price .Prolia I gather also works synergistically with hormone therapy in prevention of bc recurrence.
I have drafted and sent an email to Christian Porter federal minister for social services who has recently issued media releases regarding bc - there are other federal MPs that may also be open to this issue at this time including our local MPs. Anyone else interested in stirring the pot ? Happy to upload my email as a template for you to customise if required.
Sisterhood is powerful!
As you know Aromatase Inhibitors whilst highly effective in prevention of bc recurrence do thin bones and cause fractures.Currently Prolia injections ( denosumab) are only available on the PBS price to women over 70 or those under 70 who have a fracture. Many bc ladies who are under 70 er+ and post menopausal are osteoporotic with low T scores who should not have to endure a fracture before accessing Prolia at the PBS price .Prolia I gather also works synergistically with hormone therapy in prevention of bc recurrence.
I have drafted and sent an email to Christian Porter federal minister for social services who has recently issued media releases regarding bc - there are other federal MPs that may also be open to this issue at this time including our local MPs. Anyone else interested in stirring the pot ? Happy to upload my email as a template for you to customise if required.
Sisterhood is powerful!
40 Replies
- Not everyone is entitled to it through PBS. Some of us have to wait until we're 70! The link below might help some:
https://www.bcna.org.au/health-wellbeing/physical-wellbeing/bone-health/ - Hey Cate i think theyre similar. Ive definitely exhausted it with my oncologist and criteria for pbs. Its not on pbs thats why we're fighting to get it for us tha dont meet the criteria. Uuugh crazy!
- Prolia - Denosumab - Xgeva (all the same as I understand it) is available on PBS, I get it & I am 53 not 70. I actually get it for free as I have my injections every 6 weeks at the hospital but before that I picked them up at the chemist for $38.80. I have it under the name Xgeva
- I note my email failed to point out the impacts on bone density of chemo and /radiotherapy prior to hormone therapy
- Thanks @iserbrown I have - am now looking to send to any federal MPs who have/whose families have been effected by bc - worth a try
- I would suggest that you also aim for your local Federal MP as well as, the more that are aware the better chance of discussion amongst the MPs.
- @Romla I think it's perfect! exactly as I would have worded it! x
- Hi melclarity and all -
if anyone would like to raise the issue with a federal MP here is a template you might like to customise
Many women who have estrogen positive breast cancer - the most common form of breast cancer- are prescribed hormone therapy to prevent recurrence .Post- menopausal women are prescribed drugs called Aromatase Inhibitors.Aromatase Inhibitors are taken usually for 5 years and whilst considered highly effective in preventing recurrence of breast cancer do have the side effect of thinning bones and causing fractures. Administration of Denosumab injections(trade name Prolia) six monthly counteracts this effect and in addition further reduces recurrence of breast cancer significantly. http://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/prolia-reduces-recurrence-risk-for-someCurrently Prolia is only available on the PBS to women over 70 or those who have an existing fracture. The cost of Prolia to those unable to access the PBS price is high- $275 for each 6 monthly injection - and difficult for many to afford especially as the costs of breast cancer treatment has already been substantial.Could not women suffering breast cancer who are placed on Aromatase Inhibitors -and at the outset of hormone therapy are osteoporotic as indicated by low T scores also be granted access to Prolia at the PBS price rather than wait to suffer the severe pain of a fracture and in addition receive the benefit of a further reduction in the risk of breast cancer recurrence this drug provides. - @melclarity There is a lot online about Prolia's role in preventing bc recurrence and there is strong support for ALL bc patients to be put on it to prevent bc recurrence regardless of whether they are osteoporotic or not - in NYC in fact they are doing this already .
- That was interesting and exactly as i was told. X
