Bowel cancer patients welcome NHS drug policy change

Up until now, doctors have not been able to automatically prescribe two bowel cancer drugs on the NHS in England if patients had taken a break from them, but following a policy change, cancer patients can now continue taking life-saving drugs cetuximab and panitumumab.

Prior to the rule change, if a patient took a break in their treatment for longer than six weeks, they would have to reapply for NHS funding, with no guarantee it would be approved.

Chief executive of Bowel Cancer UK, Genevieve Edwards, who has spent five years campaigning on the issue, said “Patients with advanced bowel cancer have very few treatment options and these drugs are often their only lifeline.

“This decision by NHS England will bring new hope for advanced bowel cancer patients to have a better quality of life, spending more time with loved ones and, for some, even the chance of a full remission.

A spokesperson for NHS England said “The publication of this new policy provides additional flexibility for patients with colorectal cancer treated with cetuximab and panitumumab, enabling them to restart treatment even if their cancer has progressed whilst they were on a treatment break, provided their doctor believes they are likely to benefit from these drugs.”

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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (jacquelinevance@chadlaw.co.uk), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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