Quite Simply: UNACCEPTABLE

Last week, my mom stunned me with bad news: A young woman named Tiffany Costa died. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002 and died two weeks ago from stage II breast cancer at just 29 years old. She was metastatic for many years. Tiffany’s extended family members are dear friends of my mom. I came to “meet” Tiffany because of an email my mom forwarded to me. She was being treated with Doxil. There was (and it would appear there still IS) a shortage of Doxil and she was trying to raise money to have the drugs brought into this country from Europe. The cost was exorbitant. I remember reading the email and I recalled thinking that it was disgraceful. A drug that was keeping Tiffany alive was being rationed out. Gasoline, I get. Life-saving medications in a breast cancer treatment environment where, “If it works, keep doing things exactly the same…With No Deviation–NOT in the amount and NOT in the schedule.” This shortage was quite simply: UNACCEPTABLE. When my mom told me Tiffany died, I immediately remembered her problem of getting medication. I went on my bully pulpit warpath. ”Did something happen with the drug supply?” Mom knew I was ready to (her words to Tiffany’s aunt when she asked) “Storm Washington DC or something, she’s PISSED.” As it turns out, she never had a lapse in treatment. This was another case of metastatic disease that stopped responding to the present treatment and there were no more tools in the drug toolbox. End of the lin...
Source: Disruptive Women in Health Care - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: blogs