[fullofbeans]

hi all, again thanks for bringing this up. Christine I cannot rememnebr seeing the study you mention but yep would be good.

Anyhow I have just sent this email to the guy with the poor suggestion.


Dear Dr Kirkbride,
I understand that you have recently commented on the redirecting money from new therapeutic drug such as Herceptin.

I find your view extremely disturbing. Herceptin and the myriad of other Her targeted pathways in development offers a lot of hope for thousands of woman. Just as radiotherapy has its role so does immunotherapy it is not and should not be one or the other.

According to the latest Eurocare study there is a 16% variation in the 10 years survival rate between France and the UK. However France spend the same amount of money per cancer patient but have the latest available drugs free of charge.

I am a 35 y/o metastatic BC patient currently in remission and grateful for herceptin.

Disallowing patient with aggressive cancer access to what is now a conventional drug is in my opinion a very narrow minded way of thinking. I cannot think of a single oncologist that would not prescribe Herceptin to their daughter if she was Her2 +, as I am sure you would.

Considering that the UK GDP is one of the highest in Europe how can someone think in such term? Radiotherapy is important but so are new drugs it is not either or are often a combination of treatments are required. The number you quote is that patient benefiting cost £200k /year. I understand that MP beyond their salary cost £118k/year in various expenses. Cutting off Herceptin on the basis of cost in a rich country like the UK sound like a policy a crooked African country would adopt. Denying the chance to these people is a statement you should understand the weight of.

Best wishes
Karina