Thursday, March 18, 2010

Woman forced to choose between cancer drug and bankruptcy

From the Hamilton Spectator:
Her kidneys ravaged by chronic disease and advanced cancer, Judy Pope had been doing remarkably well with a new drug.

For five years, the medicine had kept the Cambridge woman’s cancer under control.

But when her husband’s work insurance was changed to another provider, a cap on coverage put the expensive drug financially out of reach.

Pope and her husband Gary could not afford the monthly $3,200 cost of the medication on his modest income and her disability pension.

As well, the province’s program to help people with prescription drug costs denied applications for help.

Pope had no choice but to stop taking the drug that had kept her alive by slowing the growth of the kidney cancer. ...more

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