Thank you for my fighting chance at life
Cancer C ‘wonder d d drug’ relief for Lesley after heartbreaking letter
DESPERATE mum Lesley Graham has won her fight for a life- prolonging cancer “wonder drug”.
Last week, The Sunday Post told the tragic story of Lesley who had been told she had just months to live after breast cancer had spread to her ribs, liver and brain.
We carried an impassioned letter from Lesley, 39, to Scottish Health Secretary Shona Robison begging to be given access to a wonder drug called Kadcyla.
The treatment could extend her life by months, if not years, but cruelly is not available to patients in Scotland due to its huge cost.
However, with the backing of her oncologist, she appealed the decision to health board chiefs and, last week, was told she would be granted three rounds of treatment paid for by the NHS.
For Lesley, the news was a dream come true as it could potentially buy her more time with husband Colin, 47, and daughters Charlotte, 14, and Rebekah, 11.
She said: “I am so relieved. I’m told the drug can extend your life by around six months, but many people get a lot longer than that.
“I’ve been researching the drug and the success stories are very positive. One lady is now three years down the line – and in remission.
“I am so grateful people have listened to me and I’m finally getting this chance. But I think the outcome could have been quite different if I hadn’t made such a fuss – and that shouldn’t be right.
“I don’t want to think there are hundreds of people out there who were refused Kadcyla because of the costs.
“Beaten and weakened by cancer, it’s all too easy to walk away and just accept that. The last thing you need is a battle in front of you but, fortunately, I feel well and I have fire in my belly so I wasn’t going down without a fight.
“This drug reacts differently with everyone so it may or may not work – but at least I’ve got the chance to find out.”
Last year, Lesley, 39, of Barr head, East Renfrewshire, was diagnosed with breast cancer and opted to have her breast removed.
She said: “I had surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy and by the end of the year the cancer was gone. I felt as though I’d won the lottery.”
But earlier this year, routine blood tests led to more scans and Lesley was told her cancer was back and had spread to her liver, ribs and brain. Only now it was terminal and she was told she had just four to six months to live.
She said: “Time was running out fast. My oncologist told me about Kadcyla which is not available on the NHS in Scotland. It costs around £15,000 a shot but my friends had already launched an appeal to raise money.”
Lesley said nearly £19,000 had been raised. Most of it is a safety net to pay for Kadcyla should the plug suddenly be pulled on her treatment course.
She is also using some of it to tick off a bucket list of memories with her family – and thinks the rest should go to the hospice where she’ll spend her final days.
She added: “I’m eternally grateful to everyone who has helped raise this. Local businesses have been very generous too.
“It could save my life but I don’t want anyone to think their hardearned donations are being squandered. I’m being totally transparent about where the money is going.
“I’m making memories and trying to pack as much in while I still feel well. I’ve already been able to achieve quite a few memories which is all the family, especially my young daughters, will have.
“Whatever happens, if there’s any leftover money, it will be up to the fund-raisers to decide what to do with it.
“Maybe some will go to ACCORD Hospice where I’ll be looked after in my final days. It certainly won’t go to waste.”
Three weeks ago, Lesley had her last dose of radiotherapy. Last Saturday her hair fell out – and she’s delighted.
She said: “I was warned this would happen, but I thought it would be much sooner and when it didn’t happen I thought my treatment hadn’t worked.
“When I woke up and found it all over the pillow it was proof that the treatment had worked.
“I’m quietly pleased about it, even though no-one wants to lose their hair. But if being bald means I’m still here then it’s worth it.”
Because of her courage in speaking out about the access to some life- saving drugs, she has been approached by charity Breast Cancer Now to front its campaign on better access to drugs.
Lesley said: “I’ll do anything I can to help. I don’t ever want to see anyone else in this position because of cost.
“Surely the drug companies manufacture thousands and thousands at a time. They all have an expiry date, so what happens if they don’t get them sold off? Do they just dump them knowing they could have saved lives?”
Kadcyla – one of the world’s most expensive drugs – is manufactured by Swiss global healthcare giant Roche.
The Scottish Medicines Consortium does not recommend its use at present due to its cost.
However, Roche is set to launch a
I have fire in my belly so I wasn’t going down without a fight
fresh bid to introduce the drug to Scotland this summer.
It is currently bankrolled by a specialist fund for use in England.
Last night, Ms Robison said she was thrilled by the decision.
“I’m pleased to hear that Lesley’s application has been approved and wish her well with her treatment,” she said.
“Our £90 million New Medicines Fund is designed to help patients just like Lesley, to increase access to medicines for rare conditions and for treatment at end of life.
“The pharmaceutical company has indicated its intention to make a resubmission to the SMC for Kadcyla. Clearly this submission needs to heed the calls of patient groups and others and come with a reduction in price so that more people across Scotland can have the opportunity to benefit from it.
“An independent review on access to new medicines will report in the summer.”