It's is such a difficult question because you always wonder will you be the 1/10 who has a complete response. Will you be the one they write the papers about. Should the government fund such high cost drugs? I'm not so sure but where do you draw the line? How much would I pay? Currently We are paying $1000 a week for a treatment that is not PBS approved - the studies say it may add 3 months more to my life than other therapies tested. (Median survival was 13.1 months vs 10) but progression free survival was less impressive. What if its my one? For now I will be happy if it gives me a little reprieve from my coughing. I would like to see my girls birthdays and Christmas - hell, I'd like to see Gus' birthday next year and then next Christmas too..... I also am willing to pay because right now, I feel too well to do nothing. I do everything I can for myself - I don't believe in passively letting the drugs and doctors fight for me yet I am disheartened to see fellow patients chuff down their ciggies after treatment and scoff their hot chips in the chemo ward - and many will go into remission... I digress. What value life - too difficult to answer. The drug developers have a responsibility here too - to find better bloody drugs for a start. Moreso, the expense is incredible, they are profit driven mostly, they exclude people like me from trials now because I am too heavily pretreated and may make their figures look bad - yet I am the very type of person who both needs to trial and needs compassionate access. The trial process is expensive but it is not transparent. Our Doctors and healthcare teams need to be more vigilant in learning about and providing holistic information. We need to be informed about eating properly, the value of exercise and a peaceful mind. It is not airy fairy. There is evidence but this whole attitude of go and eat and drink, do what you want is not good enough and only adding to the burden of cancer in our society. Oh I've ranted. I want to be well. I am not ready to die. I will not spend the money for my children's education on a few more months but... What if it works for me?
