Breast cancer is not yesterday’s problem says Neil Parish MP

Neil Parish, MP for Tiverton and Honiton, has joined leading UK charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer’s call to make the issue of access to drugs a top priority, and help put breast cancer back on the agenda.

Neil Parish joined more than 70 MPs at a reception hosted by Breakthrough Breast Cancer on Tuesday 8 October at the House of Commons. There, the charity called on the Government to bring about a new focus on breast cancer, with a priority of introducing an equitable system through which effective new treatments are routinely made available to patients.

Earlier this year Breakthrough expressed its disappointment that two effective metastatic breast cancer drugs, everolimus (also known as Afinitor), and pertuzumab (also known as Perjeta) were rejected by NICE on the basis of cost. Last month the Government announced a two-year extension of the Cancer Drugs Fund, an England-only fund through which patients can access drugs rejected – or not yet approved – by NICE for routine use on the NHS.

Neil Parish, Member of Parliament for Tiverton and Honiton, said: “Breast cancer is not yesterday’s problem; thousands of women in the UK are living with a diagnosis of secondary breast cancer, with incredibly limited treatment options. Research is developing treatments that can give women at the end of their lives more good quality time with their loved ones; we have a responsibility to ensure that there is a system that allows these pioneering new drugs to routinely reach patients who will benefit from them.

“In the UK, 12,000 women are still dying every year from breast cancer. That’s why I’ll be writing to the Prime Minister to urge him to take the lead on this issue, and help improve the lives of the thousands of women who are still affected by this disease.”

Chris Askew, Chief Executive at Breakthrough Breast Cancer said: “The Government has a clear role to play in putting breast cancer back on the agenda and in ensuring that breast cancer patients can expect the best possible treatment for their disease. Researchers know that, with the right funding, it’s a question of when, not if, we beat this disease.

“Research is making great strides in the way we’re able to diagnose and treat breast cancer, but unless the Government commits to putting a system in place by which new treatments are made routinely available on the NHS, these discoveries will not benefit the patients who need them. Without it, the future for breast cancer patients looks increasingly bleak.”