Sask. now offering 'revolutionary' treatment for patients with specific cancers
CBC
Adult cancer patients in Saskatchewan with certain blood cancers and lymphomas can now receive what is referred to as a "revolutionary" and "life-saving" treatment.
Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell or CAR T therapy is now available in Saskatoon.
The provincial government provided $2.1 million initially to set up the immunotherapy program and will spend $6.7 million a year to operate it and cover patient costs.
On Tuesday, the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency made the announcement alongside the Saskatchewan Health Authority and Health Minister Paul Merriman in Saskatoon.
Gary Carriere spoke at the event. He was diagnosed with lymphoma in March 2020 and received CAR T therapy last fall in Montreal.
"It's four months from then. I'm already doing things that I couldn't do for three years. I can't wait until summer to get out there."
Carriere underwent chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant before his cancer returned in 2021. He was able to receive CAR T.
"I'm 64 years old, one good thing about the CAR T is I went out grey and I came home with dark hair," Carriere said, removing his cap and receiving laughs from the audience. "My wife is jealous."
Carriere is now cancer-free.
He said he was pleased Saskatchewan is offering the treatment, which will help patients avoid having to leave the province and receive care alone.
"I speak from the heart because it is not easy to travel out of province, especially when you are fighting for your life."
He called being alone in Montreal in a hospital, "lonely and isolating."
Carriere's doctor in Saskatoon is Saskatchewan Cancer Agency hematologist Dr. Mark Bosch.
Bosch called the treatment coming to Saskatchewan "a momentous day" for the province.