Legislative Report ( 7 July, 2005)

We in the Saskatchewan Party are urging the Calvert government to act quickly and cover the cost of a potentially life-saving drug, Herceptin, for women diagnosed with the most aggressive form of breast cancer.

New research shows that Herceptin can be effective in treating breast cancer in its early stages and can prevent the disease from spreading and recurring in women with metastatic breast cancer. Unfortunately, Saskatchewan Health does not cover the cost of this drug unless the cancer is reoccuring.

We all know of someone who has been affected by breast cancer – be it a mother, a sister, a daughter, an aunt, a cousin or a best friend. The Saskatchewan Party has been contacted by more than half a dozen women facing this disease, women who have had to pay over a year's salary for a drug that can go a long way toward saving their lives.

According to the Saskatchewan Cancer Society, approximately 620 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. 150 of these women die.

It’s time we ensure this drug and other new cancer drugs get into the hands of patients much faster, while they still have a chance. These women have a limited window of time to start using this drug – approval for coverage one year from now will not help.

If you know someone facing a similar situation, or if you simply want to support women in their fight to get Herceptin covered, call NDP Health Minister John Nilson at 787-7345 or e-mail him at: minister@health.gov.sk.ca.

Past Legislative Reports