Baroness Delyth Morgan, Chief Executive at Breast Cancer Now, said the approval of palbociclib with fulvestrant for routine use on the NHS was absolutely fantastic news for breast cancer patients.
STARTS
Responding, Baroness Delyth Morgan, Chief Executive at Breast Cancer Now, said:
"Today's approval of palbociclib with fulvestrant for routine use on the NHS following its time on the Cancer Drugs Fund, is absolutely fantastic news for thousands of women living with incurable secondary breast cancer1.
“This positive decision now secures its future use on the NHS, bringing hope to an estimated 2,400 eligible women each year for whom it could bring precious additional time before their disease progresses, and more months to live.
“The guarantee of palbociclib with fulvestrant remaining available on the NHS means all three CDK 4/6 inhibitors (palbociclib, abemaciclib and ribociclib) in combination with fulvestrant, are now routinely available to those eligible - which is hugely valued by patients given they can come with different side effects.
"The Cancer Drugs Fund has played a crucial role in enabling these vitally important treatments - which can help delay the need for chemo and its debilitating side effects – to reach patients sooner.
“We encourage women to discuss their breast cancer treatment options with their healthcare team. They can also speak to our expert nurses by calling our free, confidential Helpline on 0808 800 6000.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
- For patients with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative, locally advanced or secondary breast cancer after prior endocrine - hormone - therapy.