The Life Raft Group has outreach programs in many countries, including some where Novartis doesn’t offer any formal assistance program through the Max Foundation. The foundation can only operate in countries where Glivec (Gleevec) has been formally approved for the treatment of CML (chronic myelogenous leukemia) or GIST (gastrointestinal stromal tumor). In these countries there is program in place for patients to apply for assistance in obtaining Glivec.
For three and a half years I have been on a cancer roller coaster. For three years Gleevec managed to halt tumor growth. Periodically, though, elevated liver enzymes caused me to be taken off the medicine. I was the “On-Again Off-Again Man” of the Life Raft Group.
The Life Raft Group has outreach programs in many countries, including some where Novartis doesn’t offer any formal assistance program through the Max Foundation. The foundation can only operate in countries where Glivec (Gleevec) has been formally approved
