Asbestos Drug Turned Down Over Cost
Article Added June 30th, 2006 - Print This Story - Bookmark This Story
A new drug treatment that helps those diagnosed with cancer due to asbestos exposure has been turned down in England and Wales due to cost. In an area where almost 15% of the population has an asbestos-related disease, the decision is a brutal one.
The NHS, due to cost, has turned down a new drug that could extend the life of mesothelioma victims by months or even years in England and Wales. The drug is still available in Scotland, though the rate of infection due to the asbestos-related cancer is lower in that country. The NHS has recommended a ban on Pemetrexed after reviewing that the cost of treatment could rack up to 24,000 pounds a year, the equivalent of almost $55,000.Those that represent, and live with, mesothelioma victims think the ban is unacceptable, considering that victims could have a better quality of life as a result of the treatment.
Mesothelioma, a cancer of the lungs, affects more people in England and Wales than in Scotland, due to the industry in Britain. Sufferers were often exposed over many years to asbestos at their jobs, inhaling fibers that attach to the lungs. The fibers then kill the lung tissue it has embedded in, and causes a decrease of oxygen for the body. The victim basically suffocates, usually over a period of years.
Article Added June 30th, 2006 - Print This Story - Bookmark This Story
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