A young woman from Windsor, in the Eastern Townships, is suffering from cancer and does not have access to the drug which could extend her life expectancy, because it would not be available to new patients in Canada.
Emmy Pruneau, just 19 years old, was diagnosed with incurable cancer.
The young girl keeps smiling, even if the last few months have been turbulent.
“In May I was diagnosed with epithelioid sarcoma, it is a cancer that attacks the tissues. The mass was in my left arm, I had to have that arm amputated because it was too big. Now the cancer is attacking my lungs,” Emmy said.
According to the doctors, she would only have a few months left to live, but she still hopes for a miracle.
“You always have to have hope! I want to stay positive like I was before the arrival of cancer,” she said.
The hardest thing for Emmy and her family is knowing that a drug that could extend her lifespan exists, but she doesn’t have access to it.
“The doctors tell us that the drug is not available for new patients in Canada, explained his mother Karine Cloutier. Why? We do not know. Is it a question of money, Canada is not ready to pay? We are in nothingness,” lamented Emmy’s mother.
“It’s frustrating and unfair,” said the 19-year-old woman. Let’s admit that this treatment would allow me to live two more years, it would be huge for me.
This drug is Tazemetostat, manufactured by the company Epizyme and approved by Health Canada in 2020.
Emmy’s parents refuse to give up.
“The hardest part is not knowing which door to knock on to get answers,” says Emmy’s father, Éric Pruneau. Maybe it’s the company that refuses to deliver to Canada for whatever reason. We are going to war, we are going to do everything we can to find answers and above all a solution.
While her parents lead the fight, Emmy wants to enjoy life.
“I did a helicopter ride, I go out with my friends. Soon I will go to New York! I want to make the most of it!”, she added.