Dear All
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this subject here; it’s always really helpful for us to hear and understand your opinions. Breast Cancer Care has been very active today since early morning responding to media questions about NICE not passing Kadcyla for general use. Our very own Dr Emma Pennery was interviewed at 5 am this morning on Radio 5 Live and also on Vanessa Feltz BBC London Radio. We have had our written response published across national and regional papers and online, two examples of which are below.
The Independent - http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/pharmaceuticals-giant-roche-...
Daily Mail – http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/pa/article-2719463/90-000-cancer-drug-price-attacked.html
We also have a blog about this which went live this morning and can be found following this link
We have also issued a general statement which can be read here
http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/news/blog/t-dm1-kadcyla-rejected-routine-nhs-access
Please do keep sharing your thoughts here, it is really good to read them all and it is great to know that you all feel you have a safe space to share how you feel.
Best wishes
Anna
Forum Coordinator
Hi, I am very disappointed in this. I have asked many people why do we shell out money on researching treatments for various diseases and then refuse to pay for the costly medicines. It's not as if there are a hugh amount of people who need the drug but the few who do deserve the very best. I live in Scotland so no doubt it wont be available here. Yes we do get free prescriptions however this is also a waste of money as a large amount of it is spent on prescribing such things like toothpaste, mouth wash and paracetamol all of which is relatively easy to buy and certainly does not cost a fortune. Yes this drug is costly but they all are at start of the process. Herceptin was costly too but has come down in price as more people use it over the world. It has been quite simply a life saver and to think that the NHS want to pay for gastric bands etc it is just hard to understand. I ask do the politicains value our lives I dont think so but as said it would be a different story if those who make the decisions needed treatment themselves or their loved ones. Of course they may be rich enough to pay. Regards to all.
This doesnt effect me directly but just to note that NICE has decided not to approve the use of Kadcycla blaming the cost and saying they are disappointed in the drug company for not reducing the cost ...this is despite evidence that it prolongs life by a median of 6 months (so a lot more in some patients) in those with advanced HER2 positive breast cancer. Not sure if the drugs fund in England will continue to fund initiation of this....but you can be absolutely certain it wont be available in Wales!...........Lets hope this is a political decision aimed at putting pressure on the drug company rather than an immovable final decision. Will await with interest BCCs posting and comments. Pamx