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Brain Cancer Mum's Fury As Wonder Drug Ruled 'Too Pricey'

Posted on: Monday, 3 April 2006, 15:00 CDT

By Linda Summerhayes Health Reporter

A YOUNG mother fighting an aggressive form of brain cancer has attacked a ruling which will stop hundreds of patients receiving a new "wonder drug".

Laura Smith was diagnosed with a brain tumour just days before she was due to celebrate her 21st birthday with her three-year-old son Craig and their extended family.

She believes the drug Temozolomide is the reason she has survived for almost a year since then.

But doctors have been stopped from using it to treat newly diagnosed patients because the UK drug licensing authorities have ruled it too expensive.

Hairdresser Miss Smith, of Bonnyrigg, Midlothian, has written to politicians asking them to reverse the decision. She said: "This treatment is the biggest breakthrough for brain tumour patients in more than 30 years and I feel that by restricting this drug many lives will be cut short.

"It is also the most commonly used drug for this type of cancer in countries such as New Zealand, Canada and Australia.

"I feel we are being let down by our government who seem to be banning this drug because it is too expensive. How can someone decide how much life is worth?"

Miss Smith was admitted to the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh in May after making repeated visits to her GP because of excruciatingly painful headaches.

Just days before her 21st birthday, the devoted mum was given the devastating news that she had developed a particularly aggressive form of brain tumour called Glioblastoma Multiforme.

Following requests from her family, doctors decided Miss Smith was suitable to be prescribed Temozolomide in combination with radiotherapy.

Scientists have discovered that some patients have a significantly higher chance of surviving for three years after diagnosis if they are prescribed Temozolomide when first diagnosed.

But since the ruling by the Scottish Medicines Consortium and the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (Nice), Temozolomide can only be used when all else fails. Doctors believe around 50 new patients every year in the south-east of Scotland could benefit from this treatment at a cost of at least GBP 13,000 per patient.

In the UK, up to 800 people could benefit at an annual additional cost to the NHS of GBP 8 million.

Brain tumour specialist Robin Grant, who is based at the Western General, believes doctors should have the power to prescribe Temozolomide to suitable patients.

"The Scottish Medicines Committee and Nice decision is being challenged by the neuro-oncology community and patients," said Dr Grant.

"While everyone appreciates the financial burden that the NHS is under, the Scottish Office has a stated aim to try to reduce the number of cancer deaths in Scotland. Improvements in survival with this sort of tumour are likely to be by small steps, rather than a breakthrough.

"If we don't take this next step because of financial concerns, patients with brain tumours are always likely to remain at the foot of the stairs."

Miss Smith is now looking forward to spending as much time as she can with her son Craig and family, whom she has been living with since she was diagnosed.

She said: "I don't worry for Craig because my mum and dad are the best ever but I do worry I'll not be here to see him grow up. He's beautiful, happy and chirpy all the time. He just loves life and he's what kept me going."

Source: Evening News; Edinburgh (UK)

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