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The bill aimed at full reimbursement of care in the context of breast cancer was adopted – with some modifications – by the Senate. A decision that provokes a reaction from patient associations affected by other pathologies.
At the end of the month of Pink October, on October 30, 2024, the Senate unanimously adopted the bill aimed at reducing the remaining liability relating to medical costs for women (and men) affected by cancer of the breast.
A bill that wants to reduce the cost of illness
On average, one in eight women develop breast cancer during their lifetime, and this pathology is responsible for 12,000 deaths each year.
If breast cancer is treated as a long-term condition (ALD) and therefore benefits from full coverage by Social Security, patients must face costly ancillary costs that are not reimbursed.
According to figures from the League Against Cancer, this financial burden ranges from 1,300 to 2,500 euros per woman. Amounts used to purchase essential products, such as suitable bras or lipid-replenishing creams, for example essential to combat the side effects of chemotherapy.
An open letter is published by patient associations
Following this announcement, an open letter was published by several patient associations. In this column, they write: “If this progress is encouraging for the patients concerned, it nevertheless raises an important question: why not extend this measure to all people affected by cancer or other serious and disabling pathologies, which can lead to significant expenses and delicate financial situations?“.
For the signatories of this text, “this law, although positive, highlights an injustice: that of unequal care which leaves aside thousands of patients with equally pressing needs“. The signatories emphasize that 86% of patients treated in oncology are for cancers other than breast cancer. Without forgetting patients affected by other serious and disabling pathologies, such as multiple sclerosis or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Corrections have already been made to the text
Anticipating this type of challenge, the bill has already been subject to modifications. An amendment was notably added to limit the treatment offered to care related to lumpectomy or mastectomy.
A way to avoid making differences between patients, for the treatment of a hair prosthesis for example. A decision which does not satisfy the authors of the open letter, who denounce the situation.
“Justice in health matters cannot be selective. This is why we ask you, ladies and gentlemen, to amend at second reading the bill relating to the management of cancer-related care of the breast in order to extend its benefit to all patients affected by cancer and all serious and disabling pathologies”.
The text must still continue its parliamentary shuttle before being definitively adopted. We will then see if their appeal has been heard.
Slide: Misconceptions about cancer