The life expectancy of breast cancer patients will increase thanks to a new therapeutic option that was incorporated by the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS).
The injectable medication known as Pertuzamab is a monoclonal antibody (also known as targeted therapy) that can destroy or block the cell.
Marjorie Obando, an oncology specialist and director of Pharmacoepidemiology at CCSS, explained that the treatment is already being applied to 53 women.
The CCSS has been using the drug known as Trastuzumab for several years, one of the most expensive that the institution applies. In 2018 alone, $9.7 million were invested in its purchase.
An international study revealed that in Costa Rica, the five-year survival after making a diagnosis of breast cancer is 87%: one of the best in the world.