Breast cancer care at home
A BREAST cancer patient has become the first person in the UK to receive a life-saving chemotherapy drug in the comfort of her home.
Retired store manager JeanWoods, 74, has pioneered a treatment which could soon be rolled out to thousands – with a 30-minute injection instead of a four-hour intravenous drip.
The grandmother of seven, who had her first dose last week, said: “I’m thrilled I’ll now be able to have my treatment at home once every three weeks. It will be much more convenient and a lot less stressful.
“You know the nurse will come at a particular time and can then get on with the rest of the day.”
The breast cancer homecare initiative is being overseen by The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester – the first cancer centre in the UK to offer it.
Up to 250 of its patients from the local area and Cheshire could now be eligible to help pilot the treatment called Phesgo – a combination of Herceptin (Trastuzumab) and Perjeta (Pertuzumab), two of the most effective drugs for breast cancer.
Patients will no longer need to undertake arduous hospital trips with each dose and clinical observation afterwards taking less time. Previously, a patient would have had to spend around four hours in a clinical setting.
Jean, from Rochdale, added: “I was diagnosed in November and was travelling to Oldham for treatments.
“This was once every three weeks but recently it has been once a week.”
The breast cancer treatment is the latest homecare offering from The Christie – which now has 5,000 patients receiving chemotherapy in this way for various conditions.
Outreach manager Stephanie Hechter said: “The service has proved to be ideal during the pandemic.
“Patients can be treated while shielding and it reduces footfall at The Christie.They find it convenient and it saves them long journeys and waits.”