Cancer patients insured with BUPA are to have access to a new pain relief drug aimed at treatin...
Cancer patients insured with BUPA are to have access to a new pain relief drug aimed at treating the discomfort associated with bone metastases. The drug, Zometa, is currently only available in select locations through the NHS.
Bone metastases is caused when cancerous cells from a tumour spread to nearby bone and is a common effect of advanced cancer. Zometa works to treat this pain faster than other drugs, being administered in 15 minutes, as opposed to 90 minutes. But its effectiveness comes at a price, costing £195 for each infusion. BUPA members will be eligible to receive an intravenous dose of Zometa every three to four weeks.
Rob Royce, head of policy and development at BUPA, said: 'Zometa is an essential addition to our growing armoury of treatments and our decision to fund it was based on the improved quality of life it offers patients. We can offer to cover the cost of treatment and also the complications which are quite common in cancer.'
