What a SHAM!
I wanted to share with you all the terrible state of our UK NHS system!
In a nutshell the governing body that decides what the NHS can spend their money on ruled yesterday that anyone with Kidney Cancer has 1 chance at a treatment and then after that should not be given / funded with any further treatment.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence ruled the drug Everolimus (Afinitor) too expensive to fund despite the fact that it’s a proven life prolonging drug for kidney cancer patients.
This ruling is a terrible and cruel blow to everyone with Kidney Cancer. As it means after your one try at a drug then you will be left with no options on the NHS. If we lived in any other country in Europe or in fact the world then this would not be an issue.
Below is a link with all of the coverage on the story and some of you may have even see the famous "Tom!" on the ITN news yesterday.
http://www.jameswhalefund.org/page_583.html
At present this doesn't effect Steve but when Sutent stops working it will become very much a reality for us. It is an awful feeling to think that not only will your life be focussed on trying to beat cancer but on top of that wondering how you can afford it!!!!!!
So often Ive read in the past or seen it the newspaper but when its your loved ones life it takes on a whole different meaning! And I know and understand the argument about the NHS not being able to pay for everything but when you see the terrible waste of money in this country then you have to begin to wonder about our priorities!
On a positive note if we ever need reassuring that we were under the best place for care then this has proved it to us. Tom is a wonderful doctor and a wonderful spokesperson for all of those who are suffering with Kidney Cancer.
As you know Im taking part in a cycle ride and the chap that's organising it also writes a blog and below is a link to his latest post. It sums up for me how the UK needs to be taking this whole issue much more seriously! Read and Smile
http://www.kidneycancerbloggers.com/2010/02/todays-bbc-lead-health-story-not-about-afinitor-or-kidney-cancer-but-“does-my-bum-look-big-in-this/
I am shocked and outraged by this!Have posted the piece on my FB page for more to see. Love to Steve and you all - you are doing an amazing job. Amanda, Andrew, Charlie and Jack Henderson.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sally
ReplyDeleteI've started a Facebook petition as well to see what we can do
http://apps.facebook.com/causes/446003
I've put your blog up on the James Whale news page as well
Andy
Okay Sally... if this isn't a call to action for your friends to campaign for this - then I don't know what is. Right there with you in putting pressure on to get this ridiculous ruling reversed.
ReplyDeleteHel x