The FDA now says that one of the world's leading anti–cancer drugs should no longer be prescribed for breast cancer. It's a blow to breast cancer patients all over the country.
Rachel Parrish of Sioux Rapids says, quite simply, Avastin changed her life. Or rather, gave her back quality of life. So news that her medication might someday no longer be covered by insurance is devastating.
In 40 years of marriage, you're bound to go through ups and downs.
But for Rachel and her husband Don of Sioux Rapids, the last 18 have proved especially challenging, as Rachel has had to fight breast cancer not once, but twice.
"I've been cancer free for a year now," says Rachel Parrish of Sioux Rapids, Iowa.
It's the cancer drug Avastin, the world's best–selling cancer medicine, that has given Rachel back the life she wanted and the hope she had started to lose.
"The Avastin has been a wonderful boost for me as far as there are no side affects... I feel like I have hope again – I can plan longer than 6 month or a year. It's given me a new lease on live," says Parrish.
So, it was shocking when the FDA announced that Avastin failed to extend survival in four breast cancer trials and should no longer be recommended to treat it.
"I lost hope... I could see my life changing a lot. This is it for me – it's Avastin," says Parrish.
Patients and doctors alike, have questions.
"The problem is, there are some people that do fantastic. We don't treat statistics, we treat people and we're going to have to walk some line, but from the perspective of patients, I don't think the right answer is to withdraw it, but there might be, you have so many months and if you're doing great, you can continue it," says Dr. Donald Wender from the June E. Nylen Cancer Center.
If the FDA's decision goes through, private insurers could discontinue coverage. Leaving people like Rachel and Don with another battle to fight.
Roche, the company that makes Avastin, is appealing the FDA's decision. So, for now, it will continue to be available. But, if Avastin wasn't covered by insurance, it would cost people like Rachel upwards of $5,000 dollars.
There's an online petition to get the FDA to reverse it's decision. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/3/stop-the-fda-from-disproving-avastin-to-treat-metastatic-breast-cancer/
