The family of a Griffith man fighting to overcome leukaemia has issued an impassioned plea to Canberra lawmakers to "fast track" the availability of specialist drugs.
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Chris Brugger is a local identity in Griffith because of his public push to ensure a trial drug is listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) – a move that would significantly reduce the $16,000 price tag per dosage.
The campaign took a dramatic leap forward earlier this week when the Bruggers fronted a Senate inquiry into cancer medication.
Chris’s wife, Naomi, told the inquiry all new drugs should assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Mrs Brugger argued cancer patients accepted the risk associated with the drugs, and said the drug known as Brentuximab Vedotin had worked for them.
“It’s just done really good things for him,” she said.
“He’s gone back to work part-time, he’s spending more time with the kids and he’s doing simple things like mowing the lawn.”
Mrs Brugger said the family’s story was an “eye-opening” experience for Senators who were used to being presented with “stats, numbers and figures”.
“It’s the human side of it that matters,” she said.
The taxing toll of cancer extended beyond the patient to their families and carers, Mrs Brugger said.
“The toll it's taken on him has been immense,” she said.
“But there is also an impact on the family. Chris can be away from his kids for 11 weeks straight. While I’m busy looking after Chris, my boys miss out on a mum and a dad.”
Mrs Brugger said fundraising efforts to secure the drug took away precious time from the family unit.
“Cancer patients don’t have time to waste – they need access to new treatments sooner, they need it to be affordable and they need it now, not in three years’ time," she said.
Mr Brugger said any changes to the way specialist cancer drugs were listed on the PBS would have “no real impact on my life” because his treatment was almost over.
But he said it could help future patients that were forced make dramatic decisions such as selling their home to pay for treatment.
“It is unconscionable that lymphoma patients should die because of their bank balance,” he said.
Senator Nick Xenophon said there was an “urgent need” for specialst drug reform.
“He’s alive today because of this drug and it’s been such a struggle for the family to deal with that I think that this indicates there’s urgent need for reform of cancer medication to people like Chris and his family,” he said.