MUM NEEDS £16,000 TO STAY ALIVE
CANCER sufferer Viv Foster has lost her appeal to have Herceptin on the NHS.
The snub leaves 52-year-old Viv needing to find at least £16,000 more to pay for the drug.
The mother-of-two, pictured right, has already spent £10,000 on three-weekly doses of Herceptin since first being told by NHS Stoke-on-Trent that she could not have the drug.
Trust officials ruled her cancer was not big enough to justify a prescription, after it was caught so early. But her appeal to the trust for Herceptin was this week rejected, despite a 24-slide presentation from her oncologist, Dr Murray Brunt, below.
Now Viv, who is in remission from her aggressive cancer, will have to pay for 11 more instalments of the £1,500-a-time drug before her treatment ends.
Viv, of Tudor Rose Way, Norton, said: "I don't know what else I can do, if they won't listen to Dr Brunt.
"The primary care trust says I can't have Herceptin, because my cancer was caught early. But if I don't have Herceptin and my cancer comes back, they will have to fund my treatment then.
"I don't know how we are going to keep paying for it.
"We have a bit more savings and then we are going to have to look at other ways of getting the money. But I'm going to carry on with the treatment. Dr Brunt thinks I need it and I would rather listen to him than the trust."
Viv, a company secretary with Burslem-based Excell Electrical Contractors, was diagnosed with the aggressive Her2 form of cancer, following a routine mammogram.
It is hoped that 12 months of Herceptin will halve the chances of her tumour returning. Viv cannot have the drug for free, because her tumour had five millilitres of cancerous cells when it was discovered and National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidance gives the drug for women with at least 10ml of cancerous cells.
Husband Steve, aged 43, who is a director at Excell, said: "We will find the money from somewhere, we will have to."
The North Staffordshire-based Women Fighting For Herceptin campaign group believed they had won the right for all women who needed Herceptin to receive it four years ago.
Now group leader Dot Griffiths is writing to cancer czar Mike Richards to try to force the trust to change its mind.
The 62-year-old, of Hartshill, said: "It is a local disgrace. They should hang their heads in shame."
An NHS Stoke-on-Trent spokesman said: "All the evidence, including additional evidence from her consultant Dr Brunt, was reassessed. No exceptionality was identified and Mrs Foster's tumour does not fit the criteria for the drug to be funded."
11 Comments
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by E Powell, UK
Sunday, December 27 2009, 9:37PM
“There shouldn't be postcode lotteries. We all pay the same NI and tax,so should get the same treatment in return. Stokies should stop pay NI , tax and council tax until we are treated a equals. Why don't we stand up to this government, if they want our money then we want our rights!”
by Andrew, Longton
Sunday, December 27 2009, 11:01AM
“I do believe there is a postcode lottery when it come to life saving drugs, As a terminal cancer suffer my self I feel for Viv, I am being treating by the World Famous Cancer Hospital in Manchester and have had Radio Theraphy on the 22nd Dec and in January I have been given a access toa new drug that will allow me to see me my daughters 18th in July and also maybe even longer, I never even asked for it it was just given to me, apparently on soeaking to the macmillan nurses its really hard to get this drug here in Stoke, Im in Manchester because I was referred originally to Wythenshawe for my transplant and now I have the very best care.
I wonder if Viv could get referred or even move to Manc to get the drugs she needs.
Its absoluty bloody ridiculous that somebody or some people can determine when we DIE, I always thought that the point of Doctors and nurses was to keep us alive as long as possible.
We have to go to Switzerland at the moment to go and die early, Stoke-on-Trent PCT have just made it easier and cheaper, just move to Stoke and we will stop your drugs, take you into hospital and look after you while you die, no need for assisted suicides, just move to STOKE. PCT”
by Tim, Taxpayer
Sunday, December 27 2009, 10:56AM
“Flash would rather spend the money on foreign aid, than looking after likes of Viv.”
by Audrey, Stoke on Trent
Sunday, December 27 2009, 10:29AM
“In January 2008 my husband was told his cancer had been treated it was found early when it was very small, yet by February 2008 it was a large mass, he died in August 2008. Surely, even though this ladies cancer is small, it should be treated, how can it be that she has to wait until it is bigger for treatment on the NHS? for it could then be too late for any drug treatment, it is a scandal that this situation exists, I myself had a cancer op. on 29th Dec. 2008 and am now taking Arimidex, as advised by Dr Brunt, who is a well known specialist whose opinion should be listened to.”
by Nick Haas, 3413 WEST EL PASO STREET, BROKEN ARROW, OKLA. USA
Sunday, December 27 2009, 2:16AM
“WE ARE ABOUT TO GET NATIONAL HEALTH CARE IN MY COUNTRY. WE, THE PEOPLE ARE AGAINST IT, BUT OUR SO CALL GOVERNMENT SAYS WE NEED IT. I HOPE AND PRAY THT IT GETS DEFEATED.”
by Edwin, Meir Park
Sunday, December 27 2009, 12:19AM
“Its about time we looked after our own people here in Great Briton before we give all are money to others.We can never find money for Cancer treatment But we can find money to fight a war that has nothing at all to do with us,And can find money to fight globel warming that was caused by letting off H BOMBS in the sixtes.And also to help people in other countrys We should look after our own fist.And all do gooders crawl back under the stones you have come from.”
by ellen, sandbach
Saturday, December 26 2009, 10:46PM
“My brother also had to find £15,000 towards the cost of his care when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor three years ago. The stress of knowing that there is something out there that can help you but not having the money to get the drug is awful.Luckily friends rallied around and helped out but that shouldn't have to happen in the first place.I wish this lady all the luck in the world!”
by Steve, Longton
Saturday, December 26 2009, 11:37AM
“I agree entirely with the previous posters. We are continually asked to contribute to cancer research but when what appear to be effective drugs are developed they are generally considered too expensive for UK people. Why should we bother to contribute when so many of our resources are handed elsewhere without quibble to save others and more laughably the planet?”
by Margaret, south yorks
Saturday, December 26 2009, 11:24AM
“Another post code lottery!”
by lee, meir
Saturday, December 26 2009, 10:53AM
“I really dont know how how these pen pushing Scrooge bags live with them selves, best of luck Viv hope everything goes okay for you.”