How Washington Is Nixing a Cancer Cure

Thank you so much for covering this crisis. I too am a Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Survivor. I had Zevalin in February of 2006 as a part of a stem cell transplant. It was in place of full body radiation. Zevalin and Bexxar are strategic bombing of cancer rather than the traditional carpet bombing. We are getting smarter with cancer treatments. These are proof!!! You are a saint for giving this issue the attention it deserves!!
Mrs Paterson
Houston, TX

This is just the tip of the iceberg of a national healthcare system that so many view as the solution to our real healthcare crisis. In the future it will be "drop dead" to everyone who falls outside the mystical parameters of the government healthcare bureaucracy. Anybody who has faith that, at least, those who can pay will have access to these kinds of things had better think twice.

Thank you so much for this fantastic article! I received Zevalin on 9/18 of this year and am currently planning a stem cell transplant on 11/27. While I had achieved remission prior to receiving it I had confidence knowing any little cells hiding were going to be attacked soon.

We can't let congress do this do us and our families! This is my second time with Lymphoma and my doctor immediately suggested a stem cell transplant and radioimmunotherapy and immediately sent me to St Louis University Hospital for treatments. I am so thankful! I am in a clinical trial to study the effects of Zevalin over a 10 year period. I'm proud to do it!

The public also needs to be aware of Lymphoma and those of us living with it everyday. Thanks for also getting the name Lymphoma out in the public!

JudyO

This story is reprentative of what's happening in health care in America today. There are thousands of other mind-boggling stories that defy logic. I know because I'm an RN. A significant part of my nursing practice involves teaching (behind the back door, at times) my patients and their families how to navigate the system, and/or physicians, to receive the appropriate and usually simple health care they need. think.

Thank you Jonathan for giving me back the hope that I will be able to utilize Bexxar or Zevalin for my next treatment. I have Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and am presently in remission after five long months of chemo.

To paraphrase that classic New York City headline from the 70's, Washington to cancer patients - drop dead. This ruling hits all cancer patients, not just those with lymphoma. Radioimmunotherapy, an approach now perfected for lymphomas, is a general strategy applicable to all cancers where specific monoclonal antibodies are available. Many such antibodies have been developed to specifically target various types of cancer cells. What company will make the huge investment to develop these therapies now? I am an NHL patient who has received Zevalin.

Thank you Jonathan for a great article. I have Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (B-cell) and am grateful for your efforts to bring the struggle for affordable treatments to the attention of the general public. Maybe RIT will extend my life.

Jonathan, thank you for being brave enough to speak out on a subject that Washington does not want us to know. This ruling not only affects lymphoma patients today, but creates a dangerous disincentive for the development of future therapies, as Dr. Richard Schafer, President of the American Society of Hematology who is quoted in the article, states, "It (the ruling) could have a chilling effect on the development of future drugs and radiopharmaceuticals for treating other forms of cancer and other disease." Others have been
voicing similar concerns for months. Every single American who now has or may ever have any type of illness needs to voice their opposition to this ruling (CMS-1392-FC) to their congressional representatives - and perhaps remind them that elections are coming and the 10.5 million cancer survivors PLUS their friends and families are listening. The question is, will any of them listen to us?

Thanks, Jonathon for continuing to increase awareness about cancer, and regarding this story, the politics and money issues. Insurance, health care and governmental regulations are huge issues on access, and development of life saving treatments. Yes - Sen. Kennedy should set hearings - this treatment, and it's potential demise, may be a very good example of how the system is currently flawed.

thanks