Pharmaceutical companies say that delayed drug registrations by the Medicines Control Council may have played a role in stock outs.
A deadly national cancer drug shortage is approaching its third month and patients may have to go without until October – if they can make it.
In February, Nic Basson was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme, a fast-growing malignant brain tumour. The tumour is located in his brain’s language centre and affects his ability to communicate.
He was prescribed the steroid betanoid to help control inflammation associated with the tumour. But in April, his local pharmacy told his wife, Debra, that it could no longer fill his prescription, sending Debra on a frantic country-wide search for the drug – to no avail.
She explains: “Within 24 hours without betanoid my husband had lost his ability to speak.”
She continues, softly: “He also has memory loss, so even when he can find words, he forgets what he was going to say. He is essentially trapped in his own mind.”
Betanoid is not just used to treat brain tumours, the medicine is also prescribed to patients battling leukemia, lymphoma and kidney diseases, warns Michael Herbst, health specialist at the Cancer Association of South Africa. Herbst says he is appalled at the shortage.
For cancer patients, skipping a day of betanoid can be life-threatening.
Betanoid works by suppressing the body’s release of stress hormone cortisol. To be effective, the treatment must be taken at exactly the same time every day to ensure that patients have enough of the drug in their blood at all times. Patients who stop taking betanoid have to be weaned off the drug slowly in order to allow their adrenal glands, where cortisol is produced, to slowly return to their normal function.
Herbst warns: “Patients cannot just stop taking betanoid. They could go into a state of shock – and nothing will be able to get them out of it.”
According to US non-profit the Mayo Clinic, withdrawal symptoms from steroids like betanoid also include severe fatigue, body ache and weakness.
Aspen Pharmacare is the sole manufacturer of betanoid for South Africa and says it cannot resume producing the drug until drug regulator the Medicines Control Council (MCC) approves a new manufacturing facility, according to spokesperson Shauneen Beukes.
Aspen did not say when production will resume, but Cape Town’s Groote Schuur Hospital’s spokesperson Alaric Jacobs said they were told to expect stock by the end of October.
National department of health spokesperson Popo Maja has confirmed a nationwide shortage but says the department has imported alternatives to betanoid — dexamethasone and prednisone — to prevent interruptions to cancer care. These drugs are not registered for use in South Africa and must be procured with special MCC permission.
Director of pharmaceutical company Haempharm Caroline Rich says her company will apply to the MCC to register dexamethasone for use in South Africa as a possible alternative to betanoid early next year. She says applications to register the drug have been unsuccessful: “We need to get this drug registered as a matter of urgency.”
Although the country has rushed to import alternatives to betanoid amid stock outages, they may not work for everyone.
Both Rich and oncology pharmacist Carien van der Merwe say that switching patients from betanoid to prednisone is tricky. Van der Merwe, owner of The Oncology Pharmacy, says patients like Nic are often prescribed high doses of prednisone, which is not as potent as betanoid. Patients often suffer from increased side effects as a result.
Nic is now using prednisone but Debra says the medication has left him with side effects such as heart palpitations.
South Africa’s national betanoid shortage comes about one year after Bhekisisa reported a national stock out of common childhood cancer treatments. At the time, doctors complained that the MCC had also been slow to respond to individual requests for special access to generic dexamethasone after the registered provider of the brand name drug, Merck & Company, discontinued production.
Tobacco use is a threat to any person, regardless of gender, age, and race, cultural or educational background that causes over 18 types of cancer, and accounts for over 20% of cancer deaths worldwide. CANSA advocates stopping the use of any and all tobacco products.
Tobacco can be found in many forms, and all tobacco use is harmful. “People only think of cigarette smoking when you talk about tobacco, but it goes beyond that. They need to be aware that hubbly bubbly and e-cigarettes are just as harmful to your health and the health of those around you. It’s not just the smoker who has increased risk of disease, but also people exposed to second-hand smoke,” says CANSA Health Specialist, Prof Michael Herbst.
Tobacco Products Expensive
On top of the health implications, tobacco products are getting more expensive and are creating a huge negative impact on the economy.
“The tobacco industry produces and markets products that kill millions of people prematurely, rob households of finances that could have been used for food and education, and impose immense healthcare costs on families, communities and countries,” says Dr Oleg Chestnov, World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Assistant Director-General for Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) and Mental Health.
“There is so much more you can do with an average R30 a day, instead of buying a pack of cigarettes. Have you thought about that? Giving up smoking one pack a day, will free up close to R1 000 a month, which can be used in better ways than harming your health, and the health of those around you. The financial impact is huge,” adds Herbst.
Hookah, or hubbly bubbly use is especially concerning among the youth. The tobacco is no less toxic in a hookah pipe and the water in the hookah does not filter out the toxic ingredients in the tobacco smoke. Hookah smokers may actually inhale more tobacco smoke than cigarette smokers do, because of the large volume of smoke they inhale in one smoking session. In South Africa, hubbly and their related tobacco products, fall under the definition of ‘tobacco product’ as indicated in the Tobacco Products Control Amendment Act (2007). This means that its use and sale have to comply with the regulations that apply to a tobacco product in the country. This includes the prohibition of the sale of hookahs and their products to anyone under the age of eighteen.
“Electronic cigarettes and similar devices are frequently marketed as aids to quit smoking, or as healthier alternatives to tobacco. This has not been proven, and e-cigarettes are not a better alternative to cigarettes. They still contain harmful chemicals, and it’s rather recommended to quit smoking by proven treatments. CANSA has a e-Kick Butt programme, which assists with quitting smoking (www.ekickbutt.org.za),” continues Herbst.
Know the law – it’s Your Right to a Smoke-free World
CANSA has played a significant role in contributing to tobacco control legislation in South Africa. Every person should be able to breathe tobacco-smoke-free air. Smoke-free laws protect the health of non-smokers. Report offenses here…
- Legislation is very clear about where people may smoke and where smoking is prohibited
- It’s your right to complain when someone smokes in your presence
- It’s also your right to take remedial steps if someone smokes in any area where smoking is prohibited
- Adults may not smoke in a car when a passenger under 12 years is present
- Smoking is not allowed in premises (including private homes) used for commercial childcare activities, such as crèches, or for schooling or tutoring
- No person under 18 may be allowed into a designated smoking area
- No smoking in partially enclosed public places such as balconies, covered patios, verandas, walkways, parking areas, etc.
- The fine for the owner of a restaurant, pub, bar and workplace that breaks the smoking law is a maximum of R50 000 and for the individual smoker R500
- The tobacco industry can no longer use ‘viral’ marketing like parties to target young people
- The sale of tobacco products to and by persons under the age of 18 years is prohibited
- Cigarette vending machines that sell tobacco products cannot be used to sell other products like crisps, chocolates etc.
Download all the materials and infographics here
Two cycle tours from Gauteng to CPT will be raising important awareness regarding cancer, reducing cancer risk and raising funds for support of cancer patients and loved ones.
| On the 3rd March 2017, 11 cyclists gathered at the Grasmere Plaza just outside Johannesburg, to kick off the ‘Tour of Light Cycle Tour’ to Cape Town in support of CANSA, just over 1 400 km’s away. Read more…
|
|
|
The tour with its back-up vehicles sponsored by Europcar will see the cyclists ride from Grasmere to Kroonstad on the first day, and then on to Bloemfontein on the second. From there they will ride through Colesberg, Richmond, Beaufort West, Matjiesfontein, Paarl and finally end off in Cape Town on 10 March 2017. |
|
|
|
Founder of the Tour, Cecilia Hiemstra, who was diagnosed with leukaemia adds, “Our aim is to spread light and hope to others and raise awareness for CANSA. Two other cyclists who have conquered cancer, Ray Funnell and Lawrence Brittain, will also taking part.”
The Tour includes visits to hospitals and cancer treatment centres on the route, including the CANSA Katleho Care Home in Bloemfontein. When the team arrives in Cape Town, cyclists will be accompanied by other riders who have overcome cancer, to the finish line at Caffe Neo, opposite the lighthouse in Seapoint.
The tour will be concluded with a celebration fundraising gala dinner on 10 March 2017. Funds raised will go towards CANSA’s care and support services, including the CANSA Cape Metro Care Centre in Mowbray.
The guest speaker is South Africa’s hero and inspiration Lawrence Brittain, who overcame Hodgkin’s disease and won a silver medal for rowing at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. |
Carletonville to Cape Town Cycle Tour
| The Carletonville to CPT Cycle Tour for CANSA’s 85th Anniversary, is all about showing support for cancer Survivors & helping to reducing cancer risk, by raising awareness along the way. Read more…
Cancer Survivors will be top of mind for the team of riders who are going to cycle close to 1 500 km in 12 days.
“It’s not just about cycling for these riders,” says Lucy Balona, one of the cyclist team and CANSA’s Head of Marketing and Communication. “Almost without exception, each participant has been affected by cancer in some way. This is our way of making a difference for cancer Survivors by not only raising funds but also raising awareness of how to lower the cancer risk and to show support for cancer Survivors.”
Organiser Navarre Kruger, who is based in Carletonville says that the team, who is funding itself, has raised just over R105 000 through sponsorships and donations. This money will go to CANSA’s care and support services, including the CANSA Care Centre in Carletonville.
|
|
 |
The tour, with its two back-up vehicles sponsored byTempest Car Hire and South32 and support members, left Carletonville on 25 February and will arrive in Cape Town on 8 March. After a few days of rest, they will then tackle the Cape Town Cycle Tour on 12 March 2017. |
Two cycle tours from Gauteng to CPT will be raising important awareness regarding cancer, reducing cancer risk and raising funds for support of cancer patients and loved ones.
| On the 3rd March 2017, 11 cyclists gathered at the Grasmere Plaza just outside Johannesburg, to kick off the ‘Tour of Light Cycle Tour’ to Cape Town in support of CANSA, just over 1 400 km’s away. Read more…
|
|
|
The tour with its back-up vehicles sponsored by Europcar will see the cyclists ride from Grasmere to Kroonstad on the first day, and then on to Bloemfontein on the second. From there they will ride through Colesberg, Richmond, Beaufort West, Matjiesfontein, Paarl and finally end off in Cape Town on 10 March 2017. |
|
|
|
Founder of the Tour, Cecilia Hiemstra, who was diagnosed with leukaemia adds, “Our aim is to spread light and hope to others and raise awareness for CANSA. Two other cyclists who have conquered cancer, Ray Funnell and Lawrence Brittain, will also taking part.”
The Tour includes visits to hospitals and cancer treatment centres on the route, including the CANSA Katleho Care Home in Bloemfontein. When the team arrives in Cape Town, cyclists will be accompanied by other riders who have overcome cancer, to the finish line at Caffe Neo, opposite the lighthouse in Seapoint.
The tour will be concluded with a celebration fundraising gala dinner on 10 March 2017. Funds raised will go towards CANSA’s care and support services, including the CANSA Cape Metro Care Centre in Mowbray.
The guest speaker is South Africa’s hero and inspiration Lawrence Brittain, who overcame Hodgkin’s disease and won a silver medal for rowing at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. |
Carletonville to Cape Town Cycle Tour
| The Carletonville to CPT Cycle Tour for CANSA’s 85th Anniversary, is all about showing support for cancer Survivors & helping to reducing cancer risk, by raising awareness along the way. Read more…
Cancer Survivors will be top of mind for the team of riders who are going to cycle close to 1 500 km in 12 days.
“It’s not just about cycling for these riders,” says Lucy Balona, one of the cyclist team and CANSA’s Head of Marketing and Communication. “Almost without exception, each participant has been affected by cancer in some way. This is our way of making a difference for cancer Survivors by not only raising funds but also raising awareness of how to lower the cancer risk and to show support for cancer Survivors.”
Organiser Navarre Kruger, who is based in Carletonville says that the team, who is funding itself, has raised just over R105 000 through sponsorships and donations. This money will go to CANSA’s care and support services, including the CANSA Care Centre in Carletonville.
|
|
|
The tour, with its two back-up vehicles sponsored byTempest Car Hire and South32 and support members, left Carletonville on 25 February and will arrive in Cape Town on 8 March. After a few days of rest, they will then tackle the Cape Town Cycle Tour on 12 March 2017. |
