New breast cancer treatment to provide ‘priceless’ time for terminally ill

0 Lawrence Cowan said it was ‘a major step forward’ A new treatment that can halt the spread of breast cancer for up to two years for terminally ill patients has been approved for use by the NHS in Scotland.

Campaigners welcomed the Scottish Medicines Consortium’s backing for the drug palbociclib, hailing it a “wonderful decision”.

The drug, which is taken in tablet form, can increase the amount of time those with the disease have before it progresses.

It was accepted for use by the NHS after going through the consortium’s process for medicines used to treat very rare and end-of-life conditions.

Consortium chairman Dr Alan Macdonald said: “Palbociclib offers patients with advanced breast cancer the potential for valuable additional time with their families and may delay the need for chemotherapy treatment for some patients.”

Angela Harris, the head of Breast Cancer Care Scotland, said the decision would provide “equal access” for patients in Scotland for the treatment, which is already available in England.

“Now women and men with incurable secondary breast cancer in Scotland will be on a level playing field to those in England in accessing palbociclib,” she said.

“This exciting treatment, when combined with another breast cancer drug, grants some respite to people living with incurable breast cancer, pausing the growth of this cruel disease for as long as two years.

“It is the difference between celebrating another Christmas with loved ones, taking a once in a lifetime trip or being there for your child’s next birthday.”

Lawrence Cowan, from charity Breast Cancer Now, said: “This is a major step forward in treatment for Scottish patients, bringing to an end a long wait for new options for this type of incurable metastatic breast cancer.”

He added: “It is the first of an exciting new generation of medicines capable of stopping a common type of secondary breast cancer in its tracks for around ten months more than existing treatments. This good quality time can be priceless.”