Two years too long; queue for life-extending breast cancer drug in Trafalgar Square as campaigners demand NHS access to Enhertu

Today (Thursday 23 July), a poignant queue formed in Trafalgar Square, representing the thousands of people facing an agonising wait for NHS access to life-extending drug Enhertu and the many who’ve tragically died waiting.

Women living with incurable metastatic breast cancer, their loved ones and campaigners queued as part of Breast Cancer Now’s ‘Enhertu Now’ campaign. The demonstration hits home the urgent need for life-extending drug Enhertu to finally be made available for those with HER2-low metastatic breast cancer on the NHS in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Empty pairs of shoes in the queue represented the many people who’ve tragically died waiting for Enhertu, denied the chance of more time to live. Including several women who campaigned with Breast Cancer Now for the drug to be made available.

Enhertu is a groundbreaking targeted treatment for people living with incurable HER2-low metastatic breast cancer that could give patients around six additional months to live.

Breast Cancer Now, alongside metastatic breast cancer charities METUPUK and Make 2nds Count, continue calling on drug companies Daiichi Sankyo and AstraZeneca, NICE and NHS England to urgently reach an agreement that makes Enhertu available on the NHS without further delay.

This demonstration follows new research from Breast Cancer Now revealing overwhelming public support for ending the postcode lottery for life-extending cancer treatments.

 Its nationally representative survey of UK adults found that:

• 82% believe Enhertu should be made available on the NHS for those who need it.

• 78% are concerned that people with incurable metastatic breast cancer in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are being denied access to a drug that is already available in other countries.

• 60% of UK adults believe the current postcode lottery for access to life-extending cancer drugs is unacceptable.

The polling also revealed what’s at stake for families affected by incurable metastatic breast cancer. When asked to imagine knowing they would not live to see Christmas, respondents said their greatest fears would be losing precious time with loved ones, the impact on family and friends, and missing time with their children.

Despite being available in Scotland for more than two years and also in 25 other European countries, Enhertu remains unavailable on the NHS in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Breast Cancer Now warns that, during this time, thousands of people have missed the opportunity to receive the treatment, with many people dying before they had the chance to access it.

Helen Dickens, chief support officer at Breast Cancer Now, said:

"Today, people living with incurable metastatic breast cancer, their loved ones and campaigners stood together to deliver a stark message; too many people have tragically died waiting for access to the life-extending drug Enhertu, and those still waiting can’t afford any further delay.

“Empty shoes in the queue represent people who’ve tragically died without access to this drug and are a heartbreaking reminder that for some the wait for Enhertu has already been too long.

"Public backlash against the postcode lottery denying those living with incurable metastatic breast cancer access to this life-extending treatment is clear.

"There’s now a real opportunity to put this tragic situation right. But for those who need Enhertu time’s running out.

"Breast Cancer Now will continue campaigning relentlessly until Daiichi Sankyo, AstraZeneca, NICE and NHS England reach an agreement to make Enhertu available on the NHS. Every delay has devastating consequences. People with incurable metastatic breast cancer don't have years or even months to wait for change, they need action now. We need Enhertu Now."

Hannah Roberts, 42, from the West Midlands, is living with HER2-low metastatic breast cancer, and joined the queue today to ask for Enhertu to be made available now. The mother of two young girls says:

“I learnt only yesterday that if my current treatment line fails there are likely only two other treatment options available to me, and even if Enhertu becomes available to me it may be too late if my body is no longer to tolerate harsh chemotherapies.

“I will always wonder what might have been if this drug had been available to me sooner, and that my post code had not been a barrier to access.

“However, I continue to campaign today so that people in the future have the best access possible to life prolonging medicines like Enhertu regardless of which part of the UK they live in, so that they can have more time to live well with their disease and more time to spend with the people they love, doing what they love.

“This queue today is so important to show the human aspect of this issue.”

In the queue was Breast Cancer Now supporter and Loose Women star Nadia Sawalha who told the parties involved to come together to make a deal urgently. 

"My message to the NHS in England, NICE and the pharmaceuticals companies, having been in a room with them, listened to them, listened to NICE, and have come away with the overriding impression that women here, in England, who have secondary breast cancer, are of no consequence to them.

"They don't care. They don't value them. They don't value that they might still want to do the job that they love, or look after their children for that little bit longer... If we can give a women another six months, another year and other two years, why wouldn't we?... Pull your finger out."

The charity is urging members of the public to support its Enhertu Now campaign by signing its petition calling on Daiichi Sankyo and AstraZeneca, NHS England and NICE to urgently reach an agreement that makes the treatment available without further delay.

ENDS