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Ulster Breast Cancer Patient in Battle for Wonder Drug

Posted on: Thursday, 20 October 2005, 12:00 CDT

By Nigel Gould

The Human Rights Commission has been asked to help an Ulster breast cancer patient get a life-prolonging wonder drug she is currently being denied by the NHS.Patricia McPeake from Castledawson is hoping this will result in a landmark ruling that will allow her the right to receive Herceptin, along with other breast cancer victims across Northern Ireland also in the early stages of the illness.

Research published today indicates that women with early breast cancer who are treated with the drug have almost a 50% reduced risk of the disease returning.

Now campaigners will hope that the study, in the New England Journal of Medicine, will help speed up access to the drug which has so far been limited.

Interim results from the HERA (Herceptin Adjuvant) study released last year led to a standing ovation among cancer specialists attending a US conference.

Now the results have been published, confirming that Herceptin reduced the risk of disease coming back in women with early-stage HER-2 positive cancer by 46%.

But even though Mrs McPeake passed a suitability test for the drug ,which tests had shown could greatly extend sufferers' life expectancy, she cannot get it from her health trust because it has not been approved for use on women in early stage breast cancer. However, the mother of two, who has had a double masectomy after being diagnosed with the disease in May, believes she would benefit from having the drug now.A spokesman for the Human Rights Commission confirmed it had been contacted by Sinn Fein Mid-Ulster MP Martin McGuinness on behalf of Mrs McPeake.He said: "We are aware of the matter and we will do our best to facilitate her. The next thing that needs to happen is that she should personally indicate she wants to proceed."Mrs McPeake said health chiefs at Antrim Area Hospital had told her if she wanted the drug now she would have to spend some [Pound]25,000 for a year's supply.But she said: "I haven't the money to do this. I am exhausted at the moment from chemotherapy which will finish in November. I would like to start the drug then."

Mr McGuinness said the current situation over the availability of Herceptin was "unacceptable".

Herceptin is already used on patients whose breast cancer is at an advanced stage, or those who are terminally ill. United Hospitals Trust, which runs Antrim Area Hospital, said: "The Trust position based on DHSSPS guidance is that where an oncologist determines that a lady has advanced breast cancer, and is HER 2 positive, Herceptin is available."The Trust said the use of Herceptin for patients outside this category had not been licensed.

Source: Belfast Telegraph

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