Province funds three new cancer drugs

Some good news today for cancer patients, the Ontario government will now pay for three new and expensive cancer drugs. 

Listen to Lisa Naccarato's report on new cancer drugs covered by the province

 The province will spend 50 million dollars over the next three years for three drugs that until now cancer patients had to pay for themselves at private clinics.   The bulk of the cash, 30 million dollars will fund Avastin a ground breaking drug for colorectal cancer which costs a whopping 40 thousand dollars per treatment.   

Speaking on CFRB's Toronto at Noon with Dave Trafford, onologist Dr Jim Biagi saidthe high price put Avastin out reach for many patients.

"A lot of patients simply say, "that's nice" but have to  decline paying for it, or they don't have third party coverage through a health plan."

The remaining 20 million dollars will be spent on new drugs for leukemia and lung cancer.

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