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Prevention, not drugs, the way to treat melanoma

Author
Nick Walker,
Publish Date
Thu, 5 May 2016, 5:45AM
Codi Morgan died last month after a battle with melanoma (Photo / Supplied)
Codi Morgan died last month after a battle with melanoma (Photo / Supplied)

Prevention, not drugs, the way to treat melanoma

Author
Nick Walker,
Publish Date
Thu, 5 May 2016, 5:45AM

The Kapiti grandmother who re-mortgaged her home to help pay for her grandson's melanoma treatment believes prevention, not drugs, is the way to tackle it.

Pharmac is using a cash boost from the Government to consider funding Opdivo.

SEE ALSO: Pharmac gets $39 million boost to bring new medicines to NZ

Jalna Wilkins' grandson Codi Morgan died last month, despite her efforts to pay for the his costly treatment.

She's glad another drug could be on the table, but wants to change the focus.

"I'm probably going to turn into the mad melanoma woman. We've got to have funding for the drugs. We've got to help people now, but for me, I want to think about lobbying to the Government about the preventative side of things."

SEE ALSO: Jalna Wilkins: Melanoma Drug Funding

Ms Wilkins turned to crowdfunding to pay for her grandson's treatment. 

She said it's great Pharmac is now looking at more options.

"I think there's still a long way to go and all we're doing is at this point in time is we've got something for people, we've got an option."

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