Mother of 4 wins battle for breast cancer drug
Published: November 10, 2005
A woman with early breast cancer who was twice told by her health authority that she could not have a drug that might save her life was celebrating last night after the decision was reversed.
Elaine Barber, 41, a mother of four children, was told that she could, after all, be prescribed Herceptin, as recommended by her consultant, after intervention by Patricia Hewitt, the Health Secretary.
“I am absolutely over the moon. I hope now that the very many women like me who just want to be given the chance to live will also be given funding for the drug treatment,” said Mrs Barber, from Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs.
“I can’t believe that I have been put through all this just so the health authority can balance the books. Human life cannot and should not be measured in pounds.”
Herceptin costs £21,800 per patient for a year of treatment and it is not yet licensed for early breast cancer. It is used for an aggressive form of the disease and has been licensed for advanced breast cancer since 2001.
Miss Hewitt has said that patients should not be denied Herceptin on cost grounds when it has been recommended by a consultant.
But on Monday Stoke North Primary Care Trust (PCT) upheld its ruling that Mrs Barber could not have the drug. It said evidence of its cost-effectiveness had not been confirmed and there was no long-term data on its safety. Miss Hewitt then set up an “urgent” meeting with trust officers.
A spokesman for the PCT said: “The trust’s chief executive, Mike Ridley, has today met with Elaine Barber regarding her appeal for funding of Herceptin. In the light of her particular exceptional circumstances the PCT has now agreed to uphold her appeal.
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