Nova Scotia ignores funding of Avastin for colorectal cancer patients

Colorectal Cancer :: Nova Scotia ignores funding of Avastin for colorectal cancer patients

The Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada (CCAC) is extremely disappointed that the Ministry of Health of Nova Scotia has decided not to approve funding of Avastin (bevacizumab) and make it available to colorectal cancer patients with metastatic disease.

"Providing patients with the means to fight this disease can make the difference between life and death. Patients are entitled to receive treatment in accordance with the clinical treatment guidelines and the Government is clearly sending a strong and negative message not only to colorectal cancer patients and their families but to all cancer patients in Nova Scotia," said Barry D. Stein, president of the Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada (CCAC).

The CCAC remains adamant that the Government of Nova Scotia not forget about those patients who are touched by the disease. "There are hundreds of patients in Nova Scotia with advanced colorectal cancer who could benefit from Avastin and who are being let down by this decision. These patients deserve timely and effective treatment and this situation must be rectified immediately," said Stein.

If the honourable Health Minister Chris D'Entremont truly empathizes with colorectal cancer patients he should act swiftly to modify this decision. Furthermore, he should not waste any more time and act swiftly to introduce population based colorectal cancer screening in Nova Scotia so that others may be spared the same fate," said Stein.

"With each month that passes, more and more Nova Scotians run the risk of dying unnecessarily from this tragic disease and patients are being deprived of an important treatment that could prolong their lives," said Jim Connors, a well known executive and lawyer who is a patient in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, and who has benefited from the treatment.

"As a Nova Scotian with advanced colorectal cancer, I am very dismayed at the decision of the Minister to ignore the call of thousands of Nova Scotians who have worked so hard to bring this message home to him. I find it difficult to accept that when there is a treatment available, Nova Scotians will continue to be deprived of this treatment that is available in several other provinces," said Connors.