Kathmandu, Dec. 5: Patan Hospital under the Patan Institute of Health Sciences has started the distribution of breast cancer medicines free of cost.

Dr Arun Shahi, a medical oncologist at the hospital, said that Ribociclib and Letrozole tablets will be provided free of cost from now on for hormone-positive patients in the metastatic stage of breast cancer (4th stage).

He said, “These drugs are very effective for patients who have reached the metastatic stage. The medicine is of world-class brand. The United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) recognized this drug as the first choice in Europe and America.”

Dr Shahi said that this is a kind of targeted therapy and this drug is an alternative to chemotherapy used in cancer treatment.

Other cancer medicines distributed by Patan Hospital are also available free of cost from BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital in Bharatpur, Chitwan. But he said that this medicine for breast cancer which came recently is only available in Patan.

He said that this medicine should be used 21 days a month. He said, “This medicine should be used for 21 days of the month, then leave for a week and take it again for 21 days in the next month.”

According to him, the price of this medicine would be more than Rs 100,000 for a 21- 21-day course.

Earlier, Patan Hospital had been providing free world-class medicines under 'targeted therapy' to those who are in serious condition due to certain types of lung cancer, blood cancer, stomach cancer, and kidney cancer.