Abiraterone Abroad?

[Hillwalker87]

Hi everyone,

Being a UK NHS patient, it looks as though after chemo, my dad will have ran out of options after chemo as the NHS won't offer abiraterone as he has already had Enzalutamide beforehand. He has liver mets so won't be able to have ra 223 either.

The question I have is as here in the UK, abiraterone is unaffordable out of pocket, has anyone gone abroad to seek this for any cheaper? Failing that, are there any other treatment options that dad could perhaps seek abroad that is reasonably affordable? Thanks again everyone 🙏

[Tall_Allen]

You can get a lower cost generic from India. Did you look into the Th-227 trial at Royal Marsden?

[Hillwalker87 in reply to Tall_Allen]

Thanks TA will have a look into that. No but I will make sure I do before Monday and present it to his oncologist. Thanks for your help 🙏

[Hillwalker87 in reply to Tall_Allen]

Is the trial showing promising results do you know?

[Tall_Allen in reply to Hillwalker87]

They don't release early results of such trials. Ask at Royal Marsden.

[lcfcpolo]

This is my concern as well with the NHS that basically you are waiting for treatments to fail and then that's it. Thanks TA for the heads up. Hill Walker, do please keep us in the UK updated on any new treatment pathways offered to your Dad. Tc.

[Hillwalker87 in reply to lcfcpolo]

Certainly will! I spoke to someone from PCUK who basically confirmed that another hormone treatment after chemo wouldn't be available to him. He said the only option available to him would now be chemo again should he be seen to have tolerated his first course well enough 🙄

[Proflac]

As TA says you may be able to get a generic. Also to lower costs there is the possibility of reduced dose taken with food (see discussions on the site) but it's tricky to get it right. The main problem you will face I think is that if on abi (and he has to also take prednisone too) you need regular monitoring as it has potential liver and cardio toxicity. My husband has a blood panel each month to keep an eye on this. You would have to know that your consultant or GP would commission that if you got Zytiga privately. But you are getting a bit ahead of things perhaps. Chemo may keep things at bay for a while and NHS protocols may change. Good luck to your dad.

[Hillwalker87 in reply to Proflac]

I like that you say that this should be the case for him with chemo, puts our mind at ease. I was just wanting to be sure of his options going forward 🙂