home chemotherapy hopes assessed in nationwide experiment

A targeted therapy, taken in the form of a stamp and not during a chemotherapy session in the hospital. This is the innovative treatment benefiting Josée Durig, a patient who is fighting against a recurrence of breast cancer. She picks up her oral treatment at a pharmacy, where health professionals are in close contact with the Montpellier Regional Cancer Institute. “I think it’s better to be able to be at home, it’s more pleasant than having to go to the hospital for chemo” explains Josée Durig.

In Montpellier, the experiment concerns 300 patients, who can thus space out hospital visits. This three-year experiment will concern approximately 15,000 people throughout France. 45 sites are taking part in the experiment. Another positive point, psychological this time, the less frequent presence in the hospital has a beneficial effect on the morale and well-being of the patients. Even if the treatments remain heavy and are given under close supervision, with precise monitoring. “These are a priori treatments that we take for life” explains Professor Xavier Quantin, from the Montpelier Regional Cancer Institute.

To guarantee the success of this oral chemotherapy, good patient follow-up is needed, collaboration between the pharmacists who will issue the prescriptions and the medical teams. Consultations are also planned to ensure this follow-up. An additional cost for health insurance, even if the purpose of these treatments at home is also to reduce certain expenses, in particular related to hospitalization.

Health insurance is a stakeholder in this national experiment. It will have to assess the costs of this new treatment and then define new remuneration for hospitals, pharmacists, treating physicians and patients.