Wed, 04/11/2015 - 15:46
“We are delighted that the decision has been made to reinstate bevacizumab (Avastin) for cervical cancer back onto the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) list on November 4th. Bevacizumab has been shown to increase the median survival of cervical cancer patients by 3.7 months with a small impact on quality of life, giving those with a non-curative diagnosis the opportunity to spend vital extra time with family and loved ones, improving their end of life.
"England was the first country in the world to make bevacizumab routinely available for cervical cancer only a matter of months ago, so to promptly remove this lifeline would have been devastating and unfair.
"It is good to see NHS England and Pharma working together to reach this positive outcome in a timely fashion which will enable hundreds of women initially denied bevacizumab to now be able to access it.
"It is crucial however, that a long term plan is now agreed upon to ensure the monetary feasibility and practicality of continuing to make this vital drug accessible to all patients in need.
"We continue to be concerned for all other drugs that have remained cut from the CDF, which will have a far reaching impact on thousands of patients who would have benefited greatly. We hope, as with bevacizumab for cervical cancer, that a more stable long term plan is put in place to ensure other drugs can be made available.
"Thank you to all supporters who supported the charity’s call to reinstate this drug and signing our petition."
Comment from Robert Music, Chief Executive of Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust.
For more information visit: https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/ncdf-list-nov-15.pdf