Many will have seen the recent news that the first and only targeted chemotherapy drug for secondary breast cancer has been rejected again by NICE for use on the NHS in England and Wales.

Kadcyla is a unique, combination drug made up of an existing treatment called Herceptin and a very potent chemotherapy drug, DM1, linked together. It is a revolutionary treatment, linking the drugs in such a way that specifically targets cancerous cells while leaving healthy cells relatively untouched, meaning that the debilitating side-effects associated with chemotherapy treatment are reduced.

It targets a particular type of secondary breast cancer called HER2-positive and is aimed at women who have stopped responding to previous treatments. This drug has the potential to provide women with on average six months of additional time. While treatments for secondary breast cancer can only control the disease for a limited amount of time, six months represents a significant advance on the only alternative option, herceptin plus untargeted chemotherapy, which also has substantial side effects.

Women on the clinical trial for Kadcyla tell us they hugely value the sense of normality it brings due to the combined effect of additional months of life and the lack of side-effects. This allows women to return to work, to plan holidays and continue living. This normality, which the rest of us take for granted, can feel like a luxury for people with secondary breast cancer.

For more details, go to: http://www.scotsman.com/news/counting-the-cost-of-offering-better-care-1-3520365