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Melanoma Patients Selling Homes to Pay for Treatment

  • May 31, 2013
  • Posted by: Spotscreen
  • Category: News
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Despite there being no definitive cure for melanoma, there are drugs available such as Zelboraf and Yervoy which help increase the chance of recovery and life expectancy.

The drugs can cost up to $120,000 per year for a standard course leading to calls from melanoma sufferers in Australia to have the drugs added to the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme (PBS).

Zelboraf’s maker Roche last month stopped applying to have the drug PBS listed after the pharmaceutical benefits advisory committee rejected it twice. The company also ended its patient access scheme, under which 370 patients got the drug free.

Clinton Heal, melanoma survivor & founder of MelanomaWA, says that “From our perspective, people should be given access to any treatment that can prolong their life and gives them a better chance of survival,”.

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Author: Spotscreen
Spotscreen is Australia’s leading onsite skin cancer screening and corporate health provider, focussing on providing the highest quality of specialised onsite health programs for your workplace and local community.