Brain cancer patient pays $8K a month for drug treatment

A Calgarywoman with brain cancer is paying thousands of dollars a month for thedrug Avastin, becauseAlbertadoesn't cover it for her form of cancer.

"I was pretty shocked. I wasn't expecting my life to be cut off quite so abruptly," said JanTollefson, whowas diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, three years ago.

She underwent radiation, chemotherapy and two surgeries, but her tumour returned after her second surgery in March.

Tollefson'soncologistprescribed Avastin.The drug targets a tumour's ability to form new blood vessels and grow.But it costs $8,000 a month, money the Calgary physician would prefer to leave to charity.

"I'm very uncomfortable with the thought of using my money to pay for it. I mean there's so many other things in the world that I'd much rather put my money into right now," Tollefsonsaid.

Her oncologist, Dr. Jay Easaw,has beenworking with the drug and is part of a group of physicians recommending that Avastinbe funded for a select group of brain cancer patientsas a second-line drug.

The physicians have approached the provincewith a request forblanket coverage.

"We're hopeful,you know really hopeful, because this is an expensive drug," said Easaw.

But Alberta Health says while Avastin has been approved for thetreatment of colorectal cancer, itisn't ready to approve the drug as a second-line treatment for cancers such as Tollefson'sglioblastoma.

"Decisions regarding drug coverage can be difficult and complex, andmust follow an evidence-based review process," Alberta Health said in a statement.

"The Joint Oncology Drug Review Committee, a national committee ofexperts and practitioners, recommended not listing Avastin for thetreatment of a glioblastomabecause of a lackof evidence over its effectiveness for thiscondition," it said.