Doctors warn lifesaving breast cancer drug costing just 43p is being denied to thousands : inews

referring to inews

Doctors warn lifesaving breast cancer drug costing just 43p is being denied to thousands

Doctors warn lifesaving breast cancer drug costing just 43p is being denied to thousands

Thousands of women with breast cancer are being denied access to a lifesaving low-cost drug that prevents the spread of the disease because of "bureaucratic inertia" in the NHS over who pays for it, a leading charity and doctors warn today.Scientists announced a year ago that the drug class – known as bisphosphonates – could save more than 1,000 women a year by cutting the risk of breast cancer spreading to the bone and elsewhere in the body, thereby making it incurable.The drug costs just 43p per day for every patient but a survey of NHS cancer specialists across the UK has found that three out of four are unable to prescribe the drug due to confusion over which part of the health service will pick up the bill."It is deeply concerning that such an inexpensive treatment known to improve survival for women with breast cancer is not being made available to all that could benefit." Professor Ian Smith, chairman of the Breast Cancer Clinical Reference Group"Absolute priority"Senior oncologists and the charity Breast Cancer Now said introduction of the drug should be an "absolute priority" and have demanded that clear national guidance be provided on funding for the drug.


not to mention theguardian

Thousands of breast cancer patients missing out on 43p-a-day drug

Thousands of breast cancer patients missing out on 43p-a-day drug

Thousands of women with postmenopausal breast cancer are missing out on 43p-a-day drugs that could prevent their disease spreading, research suggests.A poll of cancer specialists for the charity Breast Cancer Now found confusion over who funds bisphosphonates – cheap drugs typically used to treat osteoporosis.The drugs alter bone tissue, making it harder for cancer cells to survive there, and are already used for patients with advanced prostate cancer.They have been hailed as having the potential to prevent around one in 10 breast cancer deaths and could save the NHS millions of pounds every year.


as well telegraph

43p drug that prevents spread of breast cancer denied to thousands

43p drug that prevents spread of breast cancer denied to thousands

Thousands of women with breast cancer are being denied a 43p-a-day drug which could save their lives, experts have warned.Cancer specialists said around three quarters of women who could benefit from the cheap drugs were not receiving them, amid funding rows.Research has found that when post-menopausal women with breast cancer were given bisphosphonates, their chance of death from the disease dropped by almost one fifth.Research published in the Lancet medical journal last year found the cheap pills– already used to prevent osteoporosis - could prevent 1,000 breast cancer deaths a year.