Free pharmacy home delivery during Covid 19 restrictions
For vulnerable members of the community, Australia Post can now deliver your PBS prescription medications and essential supplies free of charge to you and the pharmacy. Might help those of us who are self isolating as much as possible. Can use the service once a month.
Beta Blockers may have additional benefit
I’ll try and find more on this but from this morning’s news: Australian researchers have made a major medical breakthrough that could extend the lives of people battling breast cancer. Scientists at Monash University have found that everyday anti-stress drugs, called beta blockers, could slow the spread of the deadly disease in the body
Tamoxifen supply trouble
Howdy all, Well who woulda thought I would be complaining about not being able to get this drug. LOl Ok, well not the drug itself but the Novladex D brand. As it is the only brand that does not make me want to jump off the nearest bridge I'd be loathe to change...actually I just wouldn't, I've tried the others and they all stink for me. Not sure what the status is in the rest of the country but Brisbane and Ipswich seem to be pretty short on supply with back orders not expected until June/July. I spent yesterday morning on the phone ringing around after my 4 local pharmacies could not supply. About 20 phone calls later I tracked some down about 30k's away and they were nice enough to dispense one of the repeats as well. They wouldn't allow three lots at once though :neutral: So if this is your brand you may want to check out the availabilty sooner than later. xoxoxoxxo
BCNA welcomes pharmacy prescription changes for breast cancer medications
Six key breast cancer drugs are now more affordable thanks to 60-day prescribing. BCNA is pleased to confirm that six common types of hormone blocking therapies such as letrozole, anastrozole and tamoxifen, amongst others, are now able to be prescribed 60-days at a time, saving consumers time and money. “It is especially important that we work to reduce the cost of hormone blocking therapies for breast cancer as some are required for ten years or more after active treatment finishes,” said BCNA Director Policy, Advocacy & Support Services Vicki Durston. “Reducing the ongoing cost of these drugs will start to address financial toxicity and improve equity, especially for those in lower socioeconomic groups who already experience disparities in access to breast cancer care.” BCNA advocated strongly in support of 60-day prescribing last year, alongside other groups such as the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. Read more via the link https://www.bcna.org.au/latest-news/bcna-news/bcna-welcomes-pharmacy-prescription-changes-for-breast-cancer-medications/ and also refer to the Department of Health and Aged Care information sheet https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-03/savings-with-60-day-prescriptions_0.pdf
Med shortage thread
Given the current climate I thought we should start a thread so people can post if they are having difficulty getting any BC specific meds and their location to help others trying to track them down. Had a 6 month appt with my onc on tues and neither onc nor CNC said Zoladex or Femara were currently an issue and they feel both are common enough that Oz will have a good supply. For reference Femara is made in Switzerland and Zoladex in UK. I am on Gold Coast and filled a repeat last week with no indication of supply chain issues.
Are you using Kisqali?
Hi, I have an opportunity to talk to the manufacturers of the medication Kisqali. If you are using it, I’m wondering if there is anything about this drug that you would like me to pass on them? For example - was the information you received from your oncologist and in writing informative and easy to understand? Have you had any concerns you might have about taking this medication answered? Would it help to have a phone number or an email address in order to talk to a representative from the drug company? What about the side effects? I’d like the tablets to be smaller - a small thing but perhaps useful for others as well? What do you think? Is there anything else I can pass on to them? I’m very happy to hear all your suggestions, ideas and thoughts. Here is a wonderful opportunity for us, as users, to be proactive in getting the company to understand how this drug is effecting us and how they can further support us. I’m looking forward to your comments and suggestions so that I can have a bigger impact on the way the company works with its consumers. Debbie Packham
