Nouvel espoir dans le cancer de la prostate avancé, découragé par une décision provinciale

L'Institut national d'excellence en santé et en services sociaux refuse d'ajouter le traitement à sa  liste, tandis que les autres provinces financent les nouveaux traitements pour les hommes atteints de cancer de la prostate métastatique hormono-résistant.

OTTAWA, le 27 mars 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - À la suite de la récente mise à jour de la liste des médicaments couverts par le régime d'assurance médicaments de base au Québec, le Réseau canadien des survivants du cancer est très déçu que l'Institut national d'excellence en santé et en services sociaux (INESSS) ne recommande pas le cabazitaxel, la première et seule chimiothérapie ayant montré un avantage de survie significatif pour les hommes avec le cancer de la prostate métastatique hormono-résistant qui ne réagissent pas aux autres traitements.

Cette décision de l'INESSS de ne pas inscrire le cabazitaxel sur leur formulaire provincial, ce qui le rend inadmissible à un remboursement public, limite l'accès pour les patients atteints de cancer de la prostate avancé au Québec.

« Pour les hommes atteints du cancer de la prostate au Québec, cela signifie qu'ils ne peuvent pas accéder au produit par le biais de la couverture provinciale de base », a indiqué madame Jackie Manthorne, présidente du Réseau canadien des survivants du cancer. « Les inégalités et les limites en matière d'accès à cette option de traitement sont inacceptables. L'accès et la disponibilité de nouvelles options peuvent offrir aux patients une meilleure chance de survie lorsqu'ils font face à cette maladie si difficile. »

Une fois de plus, cette évaluation de l'INESSS met en évidence les lacunes actuelles dans le système et la réalité des patients qui cherchent à accéder au bon médicament, au bon moment ! « La province s'éloigne de cet objectif, ajoute Mme Manthorne. C'est un revers majeur pour les hommes atteints de la maladie et pour leurs familles. »

« Le cabazitaxel comble une lacune de traitement critique ; c'est un ajout important de thérapie pour les patients vivant avec un cancer de la prostate avancé et aide professionnels de la santé dans leurs efforts pour traiter les patients. J'espère que la disponibilité éventuelle d'un médicament comme le cabazitaxel marquera le début d'une nouvelle approche, plus efficace, pour aider ces patients à avoir accès au traitement »,  a souligné le Dr Saad, chef du service d'urologie et directeur de l'oncologie urologique au Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM).

Les provinces de l'Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba et Ontario ont déjà rendu JEVTANA ® (cabazitaxel) disponible pour le remboursement sur leur formulaire public. Le remboursement des médicaments d'ordonnance n'est pas mandaté par la Loi canadienne sur la santé ou toute autre loi fédérale. Les gouvernements provinciaux établissent indépendamment des plans de remboursement.

« Au profit des patients atteints de cancer de la prostate au Québec et pour la valeur clinique et thérapeutique que ce médicament peut apporter, nous espérons vivement que l'INESSS procédera au réexamen de cette décision », a conclu le Dr Saad.

À propos du cancer de la prostate

Au Canada, un homme sur sept hommes développera le cancer de la prostate et un homme sur 28 en mourra¹. C'est le plus fréquemment diagnostiqué le cancer chez les hommes et son incidence a augmenté de 30 % depuis 1988. Alors qu'il est plus couramment diagnostiqué après 70 ans, le cancer de la prostate peut également se produire chez les hommes dans la quarantaine et la cinquantaine².

Pour de nombreux patients atteints du cancer de la prostate, leur maladie continue de progresser malgré le traitement préalable - y compris la castration chirurgicale et/ou hormonale suivie d'une chimiothérapie. Le cancer de la prostate métastatique indique que le cancer s'est propagé aux ganglions lymphatiques ou d'autres parties du corps, en particulier les os. Le cancer de la prostate résistant à la castration/hormono-résistant signifie que le cancer a continué de croître malgré la suppression des hormones mâles qui alimentent la croissance des cellules cancéreuses de la prostate. Environ 10 à 20 % des patients atteints de cancer de la prostate sont diagnostiqués lorsque le cancer s'est déjà métastasé.

À propos du Réseau canadien des survivants du cancer (RCSC)

Le Réseau canadien des survivants du cancer fut créé par un groupe de Canadiens préoccupés par le cancer. Sa mission : encourager l'effort de la collaboration entre patients vivant avec le cancer, de leurs familles et de la communauté afin d'identifier et d'abaisser les barrières qui se dressent devant l'accès à des soins optimaux pour les patients et s'assurer que les survivants du cancer aient accès à l'éducation, aient l'opportunité d'être actifs, et que leurs voix soient entendues dans la planification et la mise en œuvre d'un système de santé optimal. Le Réseau souhaite ardemment éduquer le public et les décideurs en matière de cancer en ce qui concerne l'effet du cancer sur les coûts financiers, émotionnels, et ceux sur la santé, et offrir des solutions et idées positives ainsi que des recommandations dans le but d'atténuer ces effets. Pour de plus amples renseignements, visitez le site www.survivornet.ca/fr.

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¹ http://www.cancer.ca/Canada-wide/Aboutcancer/Cancerstatistics/Statsataglance/Prostatecancer.aspx?sc_lang=fr-ca
² Prostate Cancer: Understand the Disease and its Treatment: Saad F,  McCormack M; Annika Parance Publishing; 2012, p. 25

New hope in advanced prostate cancer deterred by provincial decision

The Institut national d'excellence en santé et en services sociaux refuses to list therapy, while other provinces fund the novel treatment for men with metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer.

OTTAWA, March 27, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Following the recent update to the list of medications covered by the basic prescription drug insurance plan in Quebec, the Canadian Cancer Survivor Network is very disappointed that INESSS did not recommend cabazitaxel, the first and only chemotherapy to have shown a significant survival benefit for men with metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer that are not responding to other treatments.

This decision from INESSS not to list cabazitaxel on their provincial formulary, hence not making it eligible for public reimbursement, limits access for patients with advanced prostate cancer in Quebec.

"For those men living with prostate cancer in Quebec, this means that they cannot access the product through the basic provincial coverage," said Jackie Manthorne, President of the Canadian Cancer Survivor Network. "The inequalities and limits in access to this treatment option are unacceptable. Access and availability to new options can provide patients with a better chance of survival when dealing with such a difficult illness".

This evaluation by INESSS once again highlights the current gaps in the system and the reality of patients looking to access the right drug, at the right time! "The province is moving away from this target" added Ms. Manthorne. "This is a major setback for men dealing with the disease and their families."

"Cabazitaxel fills a critical treatment gap; it is an important therapy addition for patients living with advanced prostate cancer and helps healthcare professionals in their efforts to treat those patients. Hopefully the eventual availability of a drug like cabazitaxel will signal the start of a new, more effective approach to help these patients access the treatment," highlighted Dr. Saad, Chief of Urology and  Head of Urologic Oncology, CHUM.

The provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario have already made JEVTANA® (cabazitaxel) available for reimbursement on their public formulary. Reimbursement for prescription drugs is not mandated by the CanadaHealth Act or any other federal legislation. Provincial governments independently establish reimbursement plans.

"For the benefit of prostate cancer patients in Quebec and for the clinical and therapeutic value this drug can bring, we strongly hope INESSS will reconsider this decision," concluded Dr. Saad.

About Prostate Cancer 
In Canada, one man in seven men will develop prostate cancer and one in 28 will die of it¹. It is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men and its incidence has increased by 30 percent since 1988. While it is most commonly diagnosed after age 70, prostate cancer can also occur in men in their forties and fifties.²

For many patients with prostate cancer, their disease continues to progress despite prior treatment - including surgical and/or hormonal castration followed by chemotherapy. Metastatic prostate cancer indicates that the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes or other parts of the body, particularly the bones. Castration resistant/hormone-refractory prostate cancer means that the cancer has continued to grow despite the suppression of male hormones that fuel the growth of prostate cancer cells. An estimated 10-20% of patients with prostate cancer are diagnosed when the cancer has already metastasized.

About the Canadian Cancer Survivor Network (CCSN)
The Canadian Cancer Survivor Network was created by a group of Canadians concerned about cancer. CCSN's mission is to empower collaborative action by cancer patients, families and communities to identify and work to remove barriers to optimal patient care, and to ensure that cancer survivors have access to education and action opportunities to have their voices heard in planning and implementing an optimal health care system. CCSN is committed to educate the public and policy makers about the financial, emotional and health costs of cancer and offer considered, positive ideas and recommendations to alleviate their effects. To learn more, visit www.survivornet.ca.

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¹ http://www.cancer.ca/Canada-wide/Aboutcancer/Cancerstatistics/Statsataglance/Prostatecancer.aspx?sc_lang=en
² Prostate Cancer: Understand the Disease and its Treatment: Saad F,  McCormack M; Annika Parance Publishing; 2012, p. 25

Launch of 3 Minutes about Sue

Many of you will remember Sue Richards as the founder and publisher of Breast of Canada, which was an artistic calendar designed to inspire people to have greater awareness about breast health and breast cancer prevention. Sue is also an award-wining artist, blogger and social entrepreneur.

Sue published six issues of Breast of Canada before being diagnosed in 2009 with Parkinson’s Disease, which resulted in her being unable to work or to continue to publish Breast of Canada.

Breast of Canada was very much a labour of love for Sue, who donated every penny of profit from the calendar to the breast cancer community. Once diagnosed with Parkinson’s, she found herself living in poverty, with no income and no disability pension. Friends set up a Helping Friends page for Sue to help support her. You can access this page at http://helpingfriends.ca/supportsue/ .   

Sue has blogged and Facebooked about her illness and how it has affected her life. She says, “The symptoms of Parkinson's Disease are greatly exacerbated by stress and my current financial situation is very stressful. I am unable to work or collect disability. I've exhausted my savings and dug a deep hole in my line of credit. All these conditions add to my daily struggle and stress levels. My hope is that the video will reach a wider audience of helping friends willing to subscribe to me and help ease the financial stress. Less stress means fewer symptoms.”

Today is the launch of Sue’s video, entitled 3 minutes about Sue. This video, by Jeff Bird, has Sue describing what it’s like to live with Parkinson’s, and how she couldn’t get by without a lot of help from her friends. You are invited to watch this video, and if you can, become a friend of Sue’s by making a monthly or one-time donation to help Sue survive financially and to keep her in her home.

http://helpingfriends.ca/supportsue/3-minutes-about-sue/

Albertan men with advanced prostate cancer deserve access to bone-targeted therapies

Ottawa, March 31 -- The Canadian Cancer Survivor Network is deeply concerned that men living in Alberta who have prostate cancer that has spread to their bones do not have public access to treatments that can reduce the risk of serious bone complications.  

Men whose cancer has spread, or metastasised, to their bones are at risk of developing serious, debilitating complications such as fractures, spinal cord compression or the need for surgery or radiation. These complications can cause mobility issues, disability, hospitalization and even death.

To reduce the risk of developing bone complications, men with advanced prostate cancer need a bone-targeting treatment at the earliest confirmation of metastases. However, the government does not pay for these treatments for patients in Alberta. Because of this, many men are left untreated and are at risk of developing complications that can disrupt their life and cause disability, pain, hospitalization, and even death.

Alberta is one of only two provinces, along with PEI, that does not currently provide public access to bone-targeting treatment. We believe that patients with advanced prostate cancer in Alberta deserve the same access to treatment and standard of care as patients in other provinces. Alberta Healthcare Insurance Plan must provide access to bone-targeted therapies to prevent complications that may be debilitating.

If you would like to assist us in our efforts to help men with advanced prostate cancer receive the same evidence-based care as patients in other provinces, please contact me at Jmanthorne@survivornet.ca.

Together we can make a difference.

Women at high risk for breast cancer aged 30 to 69 now included in Ontario Breast Screening Program

Ontario is investing an additional $15M over three years to expand the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) to include women at high risk for breast cancer aged 30 to 69. The decision to expand the program to women at high risk for breast cancer is based on clinical evidence, reviews, and on recommendations from Cancer Care Ontario.

The expanded OBSP program was launched in July 2011 at select sites across the province. These sites will act as High Risk Screening Centres that will provide breast MRI, and mammography screening, and diagnostic services. This means that more cancers will be detected at earlier stages resulting in less invasive treatments, and more importantly, greater survival rates.

Who will be considered at high risk of breast cancer?

Women aged 30 to 69 will be considered high risk if they have any of the following risk factors :

• genetic testing confirming that they have a mutation (such as BRCA1, BRCA 2 or TP53) that increases their risk for breast cancer
• a parent, sibling or child with genetic testing confirming a mutation that increases their risk for breast cancer
• a family history that indicates a hereditary breast cancer syndrome and a 25 per cent or greater lifetime risk of breast cancer confirmed through a genetic assessment
• radiation therapy to the chest before 30 years of age and more than eight years ago as treatment for another cancer or condition.

How can women access the new services?

Women can go first to their family doctor or nurse practitioner to discuss their risk profile for breast cancer and determine the appropriate screening for them. If a woman has already been identified as being at high risk for breast cancer, her family doctor or nurse practitioner will refer her directly to the OBSP to be booked for breast MRI and mammography.

Otherwise, if a woman is identified by her family doctor or nurse practitioner as having a family history that may indicate a higher risk for breast cancer, they will refer her to the OBSP to be booked for genetic assessment and testing.  If the genetic assessment or testing shows that the woman carries a genetic mutation or has a 25 per cent or greater lifetime risk of breast cancer, she will be booked for breast MRI and mammography through the OBSP.

Why is it important to screen women who are at high risk of developing breast cancer?

• The risk of developing breast cancer is two to five times higher for women at high risk than in the general population.
• Women at high risk develop breast cancer at a younger age than the general population
• Breast cancer is more aggressive in younger women who are at high risk, so it is important that it is identified early