The Food and Drug Administration approved the use of Kisqali, a drug for metastatic breast cancer, for patients with earlier stages of the disease. This approval means that thousands of women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer now have access to a medication that can help prevent the cancer from recurring. In clinical trials, Kisqali was shown to reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence by 25% after three years, and by 28.5% after four years when used in addition to standard treatments. The drug is for patients with HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer in stages two and three, where the cancer has not spread beyond the breast or nearby lymph nodes. Kisqali is less aggressive and may cause fewer side effects compared to other similar drugs on the market. The drug is not cheap, costing $300,000-400,000 if taken for the entire three-year period.
Patients like Nikki Odum, who was diagnosed at 36, have seen the benefits of Kisqali firsthand. She participated in a clinical trial for the drug and found it to be beneficial despite some side effects. While the drug’s effects were studied for three years in the trial, it’s important to continue monitoring long-term outcomes. With the expanded approval, more patients will likely have insurance coverage for the treatment, reducing out-of-pocket costs. Despite critics questioning the modest benefit of the drug, patients like Odum find comfort in knowing they are doing everything they can to prevent cancer recurrence and prolong their lives.
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