13 August 2019 - The announcement that PHARMAC will fund two new cancer drugs from December has been met with huge jubilation by the groups that have lobbied so hard for this.

However, there are also significant numbers of people out there for whom this isn't the news they were waiting for: the drugs that they need haven't been included in this funding round, and they will be left with the option of either missing out on a treatment that could potentially prolong life, or having to stump up many thousands of dollars to try and pay for the medication themselves.

The two medicines involved are Kadcyla, used in advanced breast cancer and Alecensa, which has a role in advanced, non-small cell lung cancer.

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