Below is a write-up by Kristian Anderson, a recovering cancer survivor.
He is fighting to have the drug, Erbitux, to be covered by the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme so that patients will be able to get treated at a subsidized rate. Without the subsidy, the price of Erbitux is beyond the means of many cancer patients as it would be too expensive.
Please help to spread the word and take action by sending/faxing a letter to the Prime Minister and the Treasurer (contact details shown below) to include Erbitux in the above Benefits Scheme.
Do this so that many cancer patients can benefit from the result of your pro-active actions.
Spread the seed of goodness. Take compassionate action now!
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Many-Hands
Right now, in Australia, the federal government is dragging it’s heels in relation to releasing the drug Erbitux onto the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee and the board of Medicare have both signed off and given it the thumbs up and the government has (had) promised to release it to those who need it…. but they haven’t done it by the date they said they would and we’re not getting any answers as to when they intend to honour their promise.
Erbitux is working wonders in my body, I kid you not.
I have been on the drug for 8 weeks now (I had my 8th infusion yesterday) and today received my round 7 results. In just seven weeks my CEA markers have dropped from 4,100 to 234. My CA 19.9 markers have dropped from 113 to 13.9…. remembering that in the CA19.9 arena a “normal” person has a marker count of 37 and below. Each week my markers decrease by 25 to 50 percent. At a time when my markers were inexplicably climbing, Erbitux has sent them packing. Of course, keeping in mind the success of the bowel operation and the SIR spheres treatment but still… it’s producing incredible results. Erbitux needs to be, must be, available as a front line treatment option.
There are approximately 2,000 Australians that need Erbitux. My weekly treatment costs $2,000 to supply. All up, we need $30 million dollars a year to potentially bring this kind of result to many, many Australians at no cost to themselves.
The government has promised it but I need all of you to help remind them of their pledge to the cancer patients of Australia.
When I first started this journey my voice was small, quiet and helpless. Today my voice echo’s loudly around the world thanks to the prayers and support of everyone who visits the blog, countless prayer groups and churches around the world, the local media here in Australia, news outlets around the globe and, of course, Oprah.
Let me feel you, carry you higher
Watch our words spread hope like fire
Secret crowds rise up and gather
Hear your voices sing back louder
We can make a difference. One person plus one person plus one person…. all of us little people. I’m convinced of it.
If you have the time and the inclination please write a (polite) letter to the following people and let them know the people of Australia who are fighting cancer, their families and loved ones, all want and need Erbitux (Cetuximab) released onto the PBS.
Contact details for our Prime Minister, Health Minister and Treasurer are below:
The Hon Julia Gillard MP
Prime Minister
PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Tel: +61 (02) 6277 7700
Fax: +61 (02) 6273 4100
The Hon Nicola Roxon MP
Minister for Health and Ageing
PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Tel: +61 (02) 6277 7220
Fax: +61 (02) 6273 4146
The Hon Wayne Swan MP
Deputy Prime Minister; Treasurer
PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Tel: +61 (02) 6277 7340
Fax: +61 (02) 6273 3420
You can send it by mail but fax will be quicker.
Please, help if you can. The benefits I am receiving from this drug should be available to everyone who needs it. It’s not a miracle cure but it is really smart science and it works.
It works.
- Kristian Anderson
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