Australia’s first new treatment option for aggressive stomach & oesophageal cancers in a decade
There is good news for Australians living with types of aggressive stomach or oesophageal cancers today with the October 2022 Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) listing of the first treatment advance for many such patients in a decade.
OPDIVO (nivolumab) in combination with chemotherapy, is now available as an initial treatment for patients with a type of stomach or oesophageal cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. The treatment works by activating the immune system to recognise, and attack cells.
Last year, an estimated 2,4000 Australians were diagnosed with stomach cancer, while almost 1,700 Australians were diagnosed with oesophageal cancer. The fastest growing cancer in the Western world is gastro-oesophageal junction cancer, which is located where the oesophagus connects with the stomach. Stomach cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer of the digestive system nation-wide, following colorectal and pancreatic cancer.
Concerningly, digestive system cancers do not always cause symptoms in the early stages. When symptoms do present, they are commonly non-specific, including difficulty swallowing, reflux or heartburn, unexplained weight loss, or loss of appetite, tiredness and abdominal pain. Consequently, many people are not given a diagnosis until the cancer is advanced, or has spread.
GenesisCare St. Leonard’s Medical Oncologist, Professor Stephen Clarke OAM, Sydney welcomed the reimbursement of Australia’s first new treatment option for aggressive stomach and oesophageal cancers in 10 years.
“As clinicians, we want to offer therapy options that not only extend the lives of our patients, but also offer improved symptom control with associated quality of life benefits.
“For survival rates to improve, patients must receive timely access to novel treatments, which is why the availability of the first reimbursed immunotherapy for this patient group is such welcome news,” Prof Clarke said.
Small business owner, auto-electrician, and grandfather-to-four, Neville, 64, Perth, was diagnosed with stomach cancer in July 2018. Post-diagnosis, Neville commenced a two-year trial treatment of immuno-oncology with chemotherapy for two years. At the conclusion of the trial, Neville came off the immuno-oncology treatment and just had chemotherapy every two weeks. He completed his chemotherapy treatment 10 weeks ago.
“When we started the trial, my tumour was 82mm in diameter. Then after the first three months, they were able to shrink it by 30mm. And after my last scan, some of the tumours have gone, and others are inactive,” said Neville.
“Stomach cancer is hard to be detected in the early stages, and it’s important to make the public more aware, so they too, can get diagnosed.
“Therefore, I think it’s great that this treatment [OPDIVO] is now available on the Medicare system. I’m just glad it’s out there and can help other people,” Neville said.
Neville has sound advice for those living with stomach or oesophageal cancers.
“For anyone who is going through this, I would tell them to have a positive attitude, and to be strong. If you looked at me now, you would never even know I’d been sick.”
Chief Executive Officer of Pancare Foundation Australia – Australia’s leading charity dedicated to raising awareness, supporting families, and funding research for digestive system cancers – Doug Hawkins, Melbourne, has welcomed the October PBS listing on behalf of the patient community, with open arms.
“Today we celebrate the achievement of securing reimbursement for the first treatment in 10 years for patients living with these devastating cancers.
“With this listing, Australians living with types of advanced or metastatic stomach and oesophageal cancer, now have access to the first ever immunotherapy option, marking a significant milestone for the patient community and their clinicians,” said Doug.
To access the approved OPDIVO Product Information, head to medicines.org.au/files/bqpopdiv.pdf or call the Bristol Myers Squibb Medical Information Department on 1800 067 567.