Help Cancer Patients Access Medications!

We have a bit of good news today.  The medication for adrenocortical cancer patients, mitotane, is finally being made in Russia.  In early fall it should become available to many patients who need it.  Although we don't know yet if it will be affordable, the patients will no longer have to wait up to a month to receive it from abroad.

There are many other medications, aside from mitotane, which are difficult to access for cancer patients.  One such medication is defibrotide, used to treat veno-occlusive disease of the liver of people having had a bone marrow transplant.   This is a rare complication that arises in approximately 2% of bone marrow transplant recipients.  However, when it does it is highly lethal.  Prompt treatment is required to save a patient, within the hours of the initial symptoms. There is usually no time to raise funds for this medicine, which is very costly - up to $50,000 for the course of treatment.  Unfortunately, in Russia it is often difficult to achieve.  The only way to improve survival rate for this complication is to have a supply of this medication on hand.

Our goal is to help the hospitals of St. Petersburg treating patients after bone marrow transplants to access this medication as necessary.  We will be working with our partner in St. Petersburg, Advita fund, to raise the funds and purchase this medication in the most cost-effective way.  We hope you can help us achieve this goal.  One of the best ways to support us is a monthly recurring donation.  It's an  easy and convenient way to help! 

Thanks again for your support!