Her son was dying, but his rare cancer made it difficult to get the right drug
Summary
Mason Henderson, a 21-year-old with a rare brain tumor, has not responded to chemotherapy or clinical trials. His doctors recommended a drug called Lynparza, but his insurance company denied coverage because the drug is not officially approved for his rare cancer type.Key Facts
- Mason Henderson was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor that spread to his spinal fluid.
- Standard treatments, including chemotherapy and a clinical trial, did not work.
- His doctors studied his tumor’s genetics and suggested using Lynparza, a drug from Merck and AstraZeneca.
- Lynparza is not officially approved for Henderson’s specific cancer, so insurance refused to pay.
- Rare cancers make up about a quarter of all cancer cases in the U.S., but often lack approved treatments.
- Insurance companies base coverage decisions on FDA approvals and expert guidelines, which may not cover rare cancers well.
- Henderson’s drug would cost about $8,700 a month without insurance help.
- His doctors and family say they are trying treatments based on scientific reasoning, even without large clinical trials for such rare conditions.
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