www.simoncollier.ca

Herceptin, known by many as the new “wonder drug” that can save the lives of women with breast cancer. Unfortunately, this drug costs $40,000-$60,000 per person, per year. Add to that the statistic that only one in eighteen treated women will be saved, and the cost becomes over $1 million per person saved, per year. Consequently, this drug has not been approved as free treatment by the NHS in England, or in most Provinces in Canada for early-stage treatment. Alberta does provide late-stage treatment.

What makes me angry about this?

It’s not the health service, because they have a finite amount of money with which to save as many lives as possible. It just makes sense to provide cheaper treatments to more people (an example given was that 10 patients can receive dialisis for the cost of saving one woman with breast cancer). I would hate to make that decision, but I can see that the logic is good.

I’m not angry at the lobbyists. The cancer patients fighting for their “right” to this drug as a free treatment may be selfish in that it takes money away from other treatments for “quiet” patients, but it is something that I would do in their position.

I’m not angry at the media, who have latched onto the story because it has everything they could want: a cause to fight for that makes them look good; a “big bad bully” (the health service deciding how much they are willing to spend) and a victim (a living, breathing woman that so many can relate to); and an illness that is in the hearts and minds of so many (and, more importantly, scares so many).

I’m a little bit angry at the patient advocacy groups in Canada not speaking out against the hype of the drug because they are funded by the drug companies.

But I’m very angry at the drug company. They have skewed statistics, stopped trials early, and used the potential patients to market their product. Cancer sufferers expect it to save them. Despite the trials ending early, despite the safety tests not being completed, despite the marginal chance of the drug sustaining them. Roche have exploited the desire-to-live of dying women and let them create a massive media frenzy. Slogans, songs and marching in the streets, the patients fighting for their right to be treated exclaim the benefits of the drug to the world. Herceptin, the wonder drug, that will save their lives.

But it won’t. Of 100 women treated, 94 will die… after being exposed to whatever side-effects Herceptin might bring.

Why the lobbying? Why the fighting? Because Roche charge $60,000 per person, per year for the treatment. WHY ARE THEY HOLDING PEOPLE’S LIVES HOSTAGE LIKE THIS??

Why do they have no conscience? Why does nobody in the board meetings say “you know, maybe we should be doing this for the greater good. Maybe we should take smaller profits to make the treatment available to a wider market. Maybe we should act like human beings, instead of hiding behind the ever tiring excuses of stockholders and shares and ‘it’s just business’.”

Maybe someone should be doing something about Roche, instead of fighting the debt-ridding health authrorities.

Other info:
Treatment in Alberta
Treatment in England

By way of blogging tradition, here are some lyrics I like. This album (Catching Tales) is very good, I recommend it!

Dinner at eight, that sounds fine,
I suppose that means you’ll turn up ’round nine.
Bought a bunch of flowers, just for her,
She says the burden’s on the receiver.

I opened the door and you walked in,
(Sniff) The scent of wild jasmine.
The room, seemed to freeze in time,
My regular table will be just fine.

Radiant and elegant, you might be
But your concentration is so go-lightly
Both of your eyes reflecting the moon,
You really think you own the room.

CHORUS:
So What Game Shall We Play Today?
How About The One Where You Don’t Get Your Way?
But Even If You Do,
That’s Okay.
So What Game Shall We Play Today?
How About The One Where You Don’t Get Your Way?
But Even If You Do,
That’s Okay.

Try to pick it up, reading the signs,
It’s turning out to be a real good time,
And who’d have thought that entertainment,
Lies in the winter of your discontent.

Now, sit at the table, face to face,
Queen takes pawn, check or checkmate!
I feel your foot brush against my leg,
I’m not that easily led.

You flutter your eyes and you toss your hair,
I have to say that it is kind of unfair,
Let me tell you baby now what’s in store,
You win the battle, but I’ll win the war!

CHORUS

This has been fun, I suppose,
Although my feelings are all juxtaposed,
But truth be told, I’m as fickle as hell,
But gentlemen never kiss and tell!

CHORUS