The Facts
- Over the last two years, a number of secondary breast cancer drugs have been rejected for use on the NHS on the basis of cost.
- These drugs have been proven to give women with secondary breast cancer more freedom from side effects and, crucially, more precious time with their families.
- Some of these drugs have been made available through a special fund – the Cancer Drugs Fund – in England. But they are not available in Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland.
- The system isn’t working. And breast cancer patients and their families are paying the price. We can’t afford not to act.
Help Breakthrough BC change the System
- Every breast cancer patient should have access to the best available treatments, wherever they live in the UK.
- We urgently need to change the way the system works so that all women in the UK with breast cancer get the best treatments, at prices the NHS is able to pay.
- The pharmaceutical industry needs to work with government to make sure the prices it sets for new drugs are affordable to the NHS.
- The UK Government must fix the system and with a general election approaching, we need all three major parties to commit to tackling the problem.
- Sign up to show your support.
Sources and more information:
- DEMAND A FAIR PRICE FOR LIFE-EXTENDING DRUGS,
Breakthrough BC, Join our Campaign. - Cancer Drugs Fund ‘papers over cracks’, says charity,
BBC News, 29 October 2014. - NHS Cancer Drugs Fund ‘no longer fit for purpose’, charity warns, independent, 29 October 2014.