SAN ANTONIO - A local woman battling breast cancer tests positive for COVID-19 and is denied possibly life-saving treatment allegedly due to short supply.
We are here with the details and the answers we are looking for which could help save you or someone in your family.
For people with weakened immune system, such as folks that are going to chemotherapy treatments, testing positive for COVID-19 is scary and that’s what happened in this case.
This morning I met Rosa Garcia.
The 50-year-old grandmother has gone through six rounds of chemotherapy for breast cancer and has a weakened immune system. Last week, she tested positive for COVID-19.
She talked to her doctor and got a referral to receive monoclonal antibody treatments. When she called BCFS System to set up an appointment for an at-home infusion, she was told by the operator they are out of supply and could not help her.
Monoclonal antibody treatments are available to people at high risk who recently test positive for COVID-19 and can help lessen the severity of symptoms. They need to get the treatment within 10 days of testing positive.
Garcia tells me testing positive for COVID was terrifying especially since she lost her father to Covid.
“My father passed away a year ago when the pandemic started with COVID-19 down in Brownsville, so I was afraid if I caught COVID, thought I would die," said Rosa Garcia.
I reached out to BCFS System for details on the shortage. They refused to answer my questions and directed me to the Texas Department of Health and Human Services. I am waiting for a response from them.
I have also reached out to the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council or STRAC. That organization should have information as to what is happening here locally.
So, I’m going to keep asking questions on this treatment, which could be very important for some high-risk people.