Monday, March 10, 2008
The High Cost of a Cancer Drug
Avastin is a drug taken for breast cancer patients to slow the progress of cancer and hopefully extend the lives of the patients. There is a high cost associated with this drug in more ways than one. It is very expensive to administer and it does not yet fall under the insurance category. This could mean that people can’t get the help they need just because it’s too expensive. This medication also has side effects, some of which can be deadly. Even though it slows down the progression of the cancer, it has shown to have side effects so toxic that it has killed a few patients. The FDA is wondering whether it is even worth putting it on the market because of its lethal side effects. This article was very well written and researched. It was an informative argument with many facts and statistics about the drug that made it interesting and made you want to read more.
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5 comments:
That is an interesting article. Experimental cancer treatments like this are definitely a double edged sword and I don't think there is a clear right or wrong side to the argument. The article sounds well written and if it considers multiple angles, then it can definitely leave readers with a complex question to consider.
I think its really sad that a drug like this is being swayed in front of the faces of people with breast cancer. Its like they can get it if they have enough money, and they can stay alive if the side effects don't kill them. I have a friend whos mom has breast cancer and is like stage 7. THey just put her through some stupid experiment and she was the only patient to live through it. I think its amazing what they just try out on people.
I have not heard of this new drug; yet, it seems very risky. Most drug treatments start off being expensive and somewhat dangerous, as does the drug mentioned. However, hopefully the producers will be able to provide an effective drug that is approved by the FDA at a much more reasonable cost soon. However, as it stands now, I can see how the insurance agencies could deny coverage of this experimental drug.
This seems to be a very interesting well written article. In my opinion the drug should be put on the market. Perhaps the drug could be used as only a last minute option. If people are on their death bed taking the drug may kill them, but so would the cancer so there is really not much of a difference. If the drug were successful then at least the patient would have a chance to survive. When it comes to the cost I think people would pay pretty much anything to save their life.
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