Paying privately for Avastin (Bevacizumab) - Is there another way to access this?

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My mum has stage 4 bowel cancer and we have gone through all the different options of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and now we only have Longsurf tablet (Chemotherapy) and Avastin as the last resort. The Avastin (bevacizumab) is not available on the NHS so we are having to pay for it privately, which is costing us £1500 per cycle and my mum will need 2 cycles a month (£3,000 a month). We will be accessing this through a private hospital in London, I am wondering if there is another way to access Avastin which could lower the cost?

I have read that some people are accessing Avastin directly from the manufacturer with the Patient Access Scheme and getting a nurse to administer at home? the cost of this is significantly cheaper. If anyone has done this or has an alternative way please do let me know the process.

Many thanks

court 9 months ago

Hi Trunki212

Good question , although I have heard of it I don’t know how to access it but our helpline team might have the answer on 0808 808 0000.

Contacting the pharmaceutical company directly might also be an option and the other place to try would be bowel cancer U.K. . The have a forum and a stage 4 Facebook group . They also have a nurse you can email .

If you find out do let us know .

But send your mum our love and I sincere wish she gets to access it at a more adorable level .

Take care ,

Court

Helpline Number 0808 808 0000

court 9 months ago

Hi Trunki212

I tried to reply and it’s popped off !

I have heard of it but don’t know if you approach the company directly .

This might be one for our helpline workers . 0808 808 0000. I am sure they would have more information or Bowel cancer U.K. has a nurses you can email too . I am sure the staff will know more .

Send your mum our love . My other reply may have gone to moderator as I also recommended another group so you may end up with two posts from me .

Take care ,

Court

Helpline Number 0808 808 0000

KimLondon 9 months ago

There is a lot of discussion about this online- costs unfortunately vary across the UK and it's not as you'd expect just London is more expensive- it seems to just vary widely. There is talk of the NHS funding this with Lonsurf soon- I believe the next meeting with NICE about this is July but obviously people need their treatment asap and NICE may not approve in July. I am so sorry you're having to deal with this extra financial stress and really hope you can get a better cost and also that the treatment is going well.

Trunki212 9 months ago in reply to KimLondon

Hi KimLondon Thank you for this information I did not know about NICE maybe approving in July. Are you able to send the link to this information please, so I can keep an eye on it please. I have tried googling but unable to find anything.

Many thanks

KimLondon 9 months ago in reply to Trunki212

I'm sorry I don't have a link, it's from people in he online groups talking to their Oncologists etc - but it might be worth asking if your trust know about it- but also I feel like this has been going on for a long time so it may be that nothing actually changes sadly- it's so difficult isn't it. I would say joining the stage IV group on the bowel cancer forum is good as people there are way more knowledgeable than me