A Shediac woman, NB, says that she is lacking in money to continue to go to Toronto to participate in a clinical trial treatment for her stadium ovary cancer.
But despite the encouraging results, the province says that it is not eligible for a program that helps pay for food and accommodate for the treatment of cancer outside the provinces.
“It’s frustrating because I know the program is there and I know that it is there to help people like me are in this situation,” said Kim Doucette.
“But that doesn’t talk about all these parameters that you need to integrate to get it.”
Doucette goes to Princess Margaret Cancer Center in Toronto since February to receive chemotherapy as part of the clinical trial.
She was referred there after her treatment in New Brunswick is not as good as hoped for, and it was given up to 18 months to live.
“Barely three days ago, I had my last CT results and my cancer is down around 45% in my body. So it works at the moment, so it’s very positive, “she said.
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Its travel and accommodation expenses increased rapidly, amounting to $ 3,500 per month. His rent alone is $ 2,400 per month, and it is a 50%discount.
“It becomes a lot, of course, because you are like paying two houses,” she said.
“I try to save my life and try to go home and I had a lot of support from family and friends.”
Although she receives a reduced rate on her apartment in Toronto through a charity, a social worker from the hospital told her that her family income was too high to be eligible for several other charities.
Doucette says it was struck down when its provincial program request was refused in April.
“It’s heartbreaking because I do my best to save my life, and that’s why I’m here,” she said.
“I really think there should be more support for me because it works. And that’s why I’m here to fight. “
In a declaration to Global News, the Ministry of Health said that New Brunswickers who receive outside province services covered by Medicare and who need accommodation can be reimbursed.
“Services generally accepted in New Brunswick as experimental or which are provided as applied research are not covered by Medicare,” the statement said.
A provincial spokesperson said that any medical care that a patient would not require the test would be covered by Medicare through an interprovincial agreement.
Sweet treatment is paid by GSK Pharmaceuticals, the company that runs the test.
She says her savings are now almost completely exhausted, and she calls on the province to change its policy.
“It weighs me heavy and my husband, you know, it is he who does everything for our family,” she said. “So it’s a lot.”
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