Hi Paula and Gill,
I am absolutely outraged that you have to pay for any drugs you take home. I was 58 yrs when dx with idc, had 6 x FEC chemo (including cyclophosphomide). All my anti-nausea drugs, steroids, mouthwashes, pastilles etc were given to me in the Oncology Suite to take home and I didn’t pay one penny. In addition, my Oncologist arranged for the hospital to deliver to my home, huge boxes of Fortijuice vitamin/mineral drinks (I took 3 cartons a day for 4 months), as I could not eat any solid food without being totally faecally incontinent. I was on a small daily dose of Decadron (a steroid) during my 4 months of chemo, because I had to stop my normal chemo for Crohn’s. This was provided by the hospital pharmacy too, foc. I was astonished though, that I had to pay for incontinence pads at the chemist! I was, and am, being treated at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth.
In addition, I got free volunteer car service each day for five and a half weeks when having rads. I still don’t understand why I didn’t have to pay, as the cancer patients in Devon have to pay £4.50 each way for the car service. I live in Cornwall, so perhaps Cornwall County Council help towards the costs. None of the drivers could answer my query. I also got a voucher up to £125 to take to a designated hairdresser/wig shop in Plymouth - the wig is lovely.
We are not poor, not on any social income benefits, although retired, but no questions were asked about our finances. I didn’t fill in any forms.
I am wondering if this is because the Primrose Breast Care Centre, where I am treated, is a Centre of Excellence? At the time of my dx in 2003 my bc nurse said it was only one of 6 centres of excellence in England.
I think it is entirely iniquitous that cancer patients have to pay for their life saving drugs, even with a pre-paid prescription. I bought an annual pre-payment certificate for some 35 yrs for my Crohn’s drugs (4 different daily drugs and one weekly injection) and the National Association of Colitis and Crohn’s are now lobbying hard to have these IBD diseases classified as incurably chronic, as is diabetes etc. I hope bcc and other cancer charities are lobbying the government also. As for the Welsh and Scottish Assemblies, I just do not get it. How are their patients, from whatever illness, more deserving than us in England. I believe it is not only unfair, but possibly illegal under the Human Rights Act. Shall we ask Cherie Blair to help, although she is possibly too busy writing her memoirs and on the US lecture circuit? Luckily, now being 63 yrs old, the only benefit I can think of in getting old, is free prescriptions.
Hope the bcc helpline may have some positive advice for you both.
Liz.