Cancer victim spends €200 a month on medicines
A woman who lost her leg to cancer must pay €200 a month from her own pocket for medicines that she will need for the rest of her life.
Sonia Camilleri, a 44-year-old mother-of-two, has to take phantom pain killers to remove the sensations in her right leg, which was amputated last April after she was diagnosed with a rare type of bone cancer.
"Sometimes I get pins and needles or pain in my knee, or even itching. It feels like my leg is still there," she said.
Moreover, these feelings can give her a false sense of security if she tries to use her leg, making the pain killers a necessity.
But Ms Camilleri was shocked to discover, after surgery in the UK, that she had to pay €95 every two weeks, apart from having to buy several other drugs which she needs for a short time.
"I do not mind having to pay for medicines which I will only need for now, but I am going to need the painkillers for the rest of my life, and I do not know whether I will be able to afford them in future," she said.
Ms Camilleri had to give up her job as a sales assistant and now relies on her husband's salary. Her trauma started on February 14, when after a Valentine's Day dinner with her husband, two children and their partners, she started feeling a throbbing pain to the left of her abdomen.
"I do not normally make a fuss, but I was so scared that I went to hospital," she said.
After waiting five hours at the Emergency Department, Ms Camilleri was seen by a doctor, who assured her that everything was fine after examining her and ordering an X-ray.
When the pain persisted, moving towards the middle of her abdomen and even affecting her ability to walk, Ms Camilleri took some blood tests, which also came up negative.
However, she was soon to discover that the original X-ray had revealed a lesion on her pelvis. A radiologist ordered a CT scan, which showed a tumour wrapped around her pelvic bone and right thigh.
It was then that Ms Camilleri was told she needed to go abroad for surgery, and although the word amputation was mentioned, she was not told she was going to lose her leg.
"The doctor told me that the tumour was localised and had not spread. In that panic I kept thinking that I wanted to live, even if it meant losing my leg," she said.
"I was praying for God to take my leg and keep me alive. I wanted to live for my children and my husband," she said, bursting into tears.
In April, days after her 44th birthday, Ms Camilleri flew to the UK's Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital with her husband and sister for the five-hour operation that removed her right leg, including her hip bone.
After six weeks at the UK hospital, she returned to Malta in June but was disappointed to find out that the drugs she required were not free.
According to a spokesman for the Health Parliamentary Secretariat, malignancy is included in the Schedule V, the list of conditions that entitles patients to free medicines. However, amputation, for which Ms Camilleri needs the pills, is not listed on this schedule, leading to confusion. "After the entire trauma, and having accepted losing my leg, it was a big blow to find out I have to pay for the pills," she said.
22 Comments
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GiovDeMartino@Paul Psaila
Nov 4th 2009, 11:58
You, or better still, NO ONE has answered my question!
Paul Psaila
Nov 3rd 2009, 19:42
Mr. DeMartino is that all you could tell Ms Camilleri. What a relief. You seem to be putting the blame on us citizens, being the reason for the government not to supply the prescribed medicine. The government must help people in this situation because case like this could lead to poverty.
GiovDeMartino
Nov 3rd 2009, 08:34
SHAME on the authorities. YYYEEESSSS. But do all tyhe bloggers below, inc yours truly, declare every cent they earn when they fill in their income tax form? Tinsewx x'kien jigrilu Pinocchio.
Lisa Schembri
Nov 2nd 2009, 11:53
Its not a case of her condition being over looked by authorities as IGalea said........its more a matter of shame on the shops for selling it at that RIDICULOUS price .
Sure she's (unfortunately) suffering from a rare bone cancer but the medicine shes taking does not solely ease the pain for her disease; its also used for epilepsy and multiple sclerosis(when medicine has more than one function its generally cheaper) Neurontin is general neuropathic drug, strain-Gabapentin, it has a lot of side effects of paranoiac and suicidal tendancies.
If she's going to spend 200 euro a month on one medicine there are way safer and better drugs that her doctor can prescribe that are not supplied by those nasty people at Pfizer (whom I often get annoying spam from)
Eric Camilleri
Nov 2nd 2009, 10:12
To the Spokesman for the Health Parliamentary Secretariat :
OK you have clarified that there is a confusion on the scheduling. You can humanely and clearly see that Sonia Camilleri is in dire need of this expensive medication. In the name of all Tax Payers cut the crap and immediately grant Sonia her much needed prescribed pain killers, then sort out your Secretariat's internal scheduling "confusion" ! This woman and her family have suffered something than none of us ever wish on us or our loved ones. Get your priorities right for heavens' sake !
S.Borg
Nov 2nd 2009, 00:18
Sena u tlett xhur ilu, ghaddejt mill ftit problema bhalek, izda taqtax qalbek.
Il-fatt li int tkellimt diga irbaht ftit mill problema ghax tkellimt. Il-Bambin mieghek u mal-familja.
Claire Busuttil
Nov 1st 2009, 22:01
Dik hi!!!!!!!! l aqwa li il ministri jigru fl aqwa cars, u jiehdu min jaf kemm aktar beneficji min fuq dahrna.....imbaghd xi hadd marid, li diga irrid ihabat wiccu mal kundizzjoni tieghu u il problemi li maghha igib....irid ukoll ikollu ihallas ghal medicina.....u min ma ikollux min fejn ihallas??? Gharukaza!! Tal Misthija!
a. mercieca
Nov 1st 2009, 21:55
Sonia and her family are friends of mine and I know the pain and the heartache they have all been through, It's disgusting that after so big a trauma she must also be made to pay for her medicine.It is a shame that the authorities spend so much money on petty things and yet find plenty of excuses to help Sonia and other like her.Good luck Sonia.
A.Borg
Nov 1st 2009, 21:48
After reading this, I have recalled what I have passed through with my wife last year. We to had to go to U.K. for treatment, but it was in the muscle, which was much simpler. I guess that Mrs Camilleri was at Stanmore RNOH. I can understand what this family is passing through. If you phone in the U.K. hospital, they will guide you what to do. They will support you even morally.
I have nothing more to say, except we all share your sorrow.
Finally I have seen other patient who managed to passed through this, through pain though,but if Mrs Camilleri has the will she eventually pass through it.
Galea. L
Nov 1st 2009, 16:37
Chrissey Zammit
They have absolutely NO right to confiscate her medication or anything you import from another EU country (except drugs etc) because of the freedom of movement of goods and services. Your friend should complain to the EU Representation in Malta and the EU Commission in Brussels and sue the customs authorities. They have been sued on other issues before and lost their cases including in appeals. SO COMPLAIN AND SUE THEM.
If anyone meets such instances at customs tell them straight away that they cannot do it and that you are going to complain to the EU Commission and holding them personally responsible. They should not be able to hide behind their uniform when they take such distasteful and arrogant decisions and illegalities.
Brian Borg
Nov 1st 2009, 15:27
I know Sonia and her family well. Her husband is a second cousin of mine. I know what her family are going through including her husband's parents. It is a shame on the government for not helping such families.
Chrissey Zammit
Nov 1st 2009, 15:16
@ V. Dimech.
I totally agree with your comments, and thank you for supplying the Webs addresses, HOWEVER a friend of mine bought generic medication over the internet, due to the cost of them in Malta, and she recieived a letter from the Customs asking her to contact them, upon contacting them she found that her parcel had been opened (which of course they are allowed to do) they told her, "you can buy the same medication in Malta" her argument was they are too expensive in Malta. They confiscated the medication. So for anyone buying medication over the internet BEWARE. You could have them confiscated.
Toniom Mercieca
Nov 1st 2009, 14:11
I've known Sonia since we were kids having fun on the beach at Mellieha. Little did we know what the future had in store for us, I ended up a wheelchair user due to a spinal cord injury and Sonia as already described. It's disgusting how the authorities lack of support is shown post injury/op as if to help us come to terms with the trauma. Well done Sonia if one doesn't speak up then the authorities will take us for granted. Take care Sonia and keep up the strugle.
lgalea
Nov 1st 2009, 12:11
Shame on the authorities for not providing her and similar cases with free medicine and yet they find enough money to squander on petty things and illegal immigrants.
C.Scerri
Nov 1st 2009, 11:26
A short internet search gave the generic version as costing half as much - and seeing the consituents of the drug, it seems to be excessively expensive but thus resulting in a windfall for the company!!
Edward Cassar
Nov 1st 2009, 11:23
@ Vincent Galea do you mean that this dear woman has to praise the Lord for what happened to her .Please help ,as you got me going around in circles.
t. borg
Nov 1st 2009, 11:12
There should be some kind of financial support on individual cases like this otherwise shame on us all. Well done to the Times for bringing this kind of problem to the public.
j borg
Nov 1st 2009, 11:09
i have been an amputee for almost 20 years. At first everybody has phantom pains. I had them for over a year yet never had any medication for it. I also know many other amputees who also never took any medication for the phantom pains. It took me over a year for the phantom pains to dissapear and still even now if i walk too much i still feel pain around my ankle which of course is not there anymore.
I would like to offer some advice which my physios offered me at the time. It is to rub the stump with her hand as much as possible, The explanation being, that it sort of makes the nerves realise that the leg is not there any more. So maybe this will help in reducing these pains. I know each case is different but hopefully this will help
I would like to tell this woman to have courage. It is a long road but if you are a fighter you will win. I am still working, travelling, driving and leading an independent life. So good luck and hope my litte advice helps
V Dimech
Nov 1st 2009, 11:04
The generic drug is Gabapentin.
Prices on the internet are much cheaper (half the price) both for the Neurontin and the generic Gabapentin. What I suggest is that the first person you know who goes abroad on holiday ask him to bring you a year's supply. Please note that the prices are half those quoted in Malta and these include shipping and other charges because it is a prescription drug. So if you buy it from a pharmacy abroad it would be really cheaper.
http://www.pharmacychecker.com/Pricing.asp?DrugName=Gabapentin&DrugId=18810&DrugStrengthId=30675
http://www.pharmacychecker.com/Pricing.asp?DrugName=Neurontin&DrugId=19059&DrugStrengthId=31061
Chrissey Zammit
Nov 1st 2009, 10:58
This !!! is nothing short of disgusting.Malignancy is what caused this dear lady to lose her leg.
So she should NOT pay for her medication. 200 euros a month is such a lot of money out of anyones pocket. She is not able to work, having to rely on her husbands wage, and still find 200 euros!!!!! The HEALTH PARLIMENTARY SECRETARIAT should be made to look at this case again and again until this lady gets the tablets FREE. Why is the Maltese goverment not looking after their nations health in a more sympathetic manner.
vfarrugia
Nov 1st 2009, 10:17
Can this patient take the generic version? It is usually much cheaper than the originator, and works just the same.
Vincent Galea
Nov 1st 2009, 10:11
Blessed are You, Lord our God. Who raises up those who are bowed down.