According to today's announcement by the government, the new EBP will allow the gathering of evidence on the benefit and outcomes of cancer drugs.  Effective May 12, 2011, the use of Herceptin, in conjunction with chemotherapy, to treat breast tumours of less than or equal to 1 cm in women who are node negative and HER2-positive, was approved as the first drug in the program.  The government has indicated that they are developing a full program framework over the coming weeks and months and will introduce additional cancer drugs to the EBP over time.

"While there are still many details about the new provincial program that need to be worked out, we are hopeful that the new criteria will address the need for increased and timely access to treatments for all Ontarians living with breast cancer," says DeCoteau.

In the meantime, Jill will receive her first funded treatment with Herceptin on Friday May 13, 2011. Herceptin, when given in combination with chemotherapy, has been shown to reduce the rates of recurrence by more than half within four years of diagnosis in patients with HER2-postive breast cancer, a particularly aggressive form of the disease that affects 20 to 25 per cent of patients.

Source: RETHINK BREAST CANCER