MEDIA RELEASE
First tranche of funding for Melanoma patients to commence on Neil Evans’ anniversary – 27th June 2022.
A new patient funding program aimed at making treatment options and support for melanoma patients across Australia more accessible is launched today as a partnership between Melanoma Institute Australia (MIA) and the recently formed Neil Evans Melanoma Foundation.
The patient fund will include financial support to help patients access clinical trials and potentially life-saving drugs which are currently not available on the Australian Government’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
Melanoma is the deadliest of skin cancers and with Australia recording some of the highest rates of melanoma in the world, it has been afforded an unenviable title as our ‘national cancer’. Recent MIA-led trials have made major breakthroughs in its treatment, tripling life expectancy for over 50% of advanced melanoma patients through targeted therapies and immunotherapies.
However, for approximately 30% of people these treatments have very little or no impact. Regrettably these patients not helped by our modern drug therapies tend to be young, fit and in the prime of their lives.
“We see melanoma patients every day who are financially struggling” “This fund could help alleviate financial stress faced by patients, and thus potentially open up new treatment options to them as well as enable access to additional supports and services”.
Professor Georgina Long AO and Professor Richard Scolyer AO, MIA Co Medical Directors
HOW YOU CAN HELP ?
Take the opportunity before June 30 to make a donation to help us raise much needed funds to support the next group of patients. Go to Neil Evans Melanoma Foundation | Helping patients with melanoma.
