From 1 August 2021, patients with unresectable or metastatic bowel cancer (mCRC) that is mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) will have a new treatment option, with the subsidised listing of Keytruda on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
 
Keytruda works to reactivate the immune system to detect and attack tumour cells and is the first subsidised immunotherapy for bowel cancer patients. No longer will patients and their families be faced with the decision of whether to go into debt to fund the treatment or to decline it.
 
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Patients with BRAF V600E-variant metastatic bowel cancer are one step closer to accessing a subsidised third-line treatment option, following a positive recommendation by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) to list Braftovi in combination with Erbitux. Until listing on the PBS occurs, the treatment is available through the manufacturer’s patient cost-sharing program.
 
“Fortunately, Braftovi gave me all I could hope for; I had very few side effects, and it was much kinder on my body than the chemotherapies I have endured,” said Tuula who was first diagnosed with bowel cancer just over seven years ago at age 67 and began treatment with Braftovi in November 2019.
 
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Avastin was withdrawn from the PBS on 1 June 2021, resulting in forced-switching to the newly listed biosimilar, Mvasi, for patients receiving Avastin unless they paid privately to continue with the biologic.
 
Bowel Cancer Australia remains concerned about how this PBS decision was made, the lack of transparency, and that patients were the last to know. The withdrawal of Avastin signals an erosion of patient choice, despite the Department of Health stating “biosimilar medicines give patients access to more brand options”.

A new report published by Bowel Cancer Australia, ‘The impending bowel cancer crisis’, highlights examples of solutions that have been implemented to address delays in diagnosis due to colonoscopy backlogs.
 
“Planning for post-pandemic colonoscopy catch-up and increasing ongoing capacity is urgently required as bowel cancer must not be forgotten in the long shadow of COVID-19,” said colorectal surgeon, Dr Graham Newstead AM.
 
“Otherwise, we risk undoing the gains made over the past 20 years,” Dr Newstead said.

Pre-pandemic participation rates in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program continue to hover at 43.5%. For people who received a positive screen, colonoscopy wait times in States and Territories ranged from between 112 and 173 days, far exceeding the recommended 30 days.
 
“Timely diagnosis is paramount. The opportunity for early detection is lost if a positive test is not followed up by a prompt colonoscopy,” said Dr Newsted.

More than 500 thought leaders, researchers, clinicians, and patient advocates from 35 countries across six continents came together for Rally on Research 2021, to discuss the impacts of the rising rates of young onset bowel cancer, and what the advocacy and medical community can do to change this trend.

Bowel Cancer Australia's involvement in the event included active participation on the Planning Committee, an abstract presentation about how we are challenging perceptions and motivating action, and powerful insights shared by Sophie Boffa as part of the Patient and Caregiver Panel.

Video recordings from each of the 2021 sessions of the symposium are available to watch along with a recap of the event here.