NHS snubs cancer drug plea
DYING cancer patient Vilma Dallal has been forced by health bosses to stop taking a drug which was keeping her alive.
Doctors say Avastin achieved spectacular results during the year the Stoke-on-Trent grandmother was on it.
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Vilma Dallal
Its £58,000-a-year price tag was picked up by her insurance company as the treatment steadily shrank tumours in her body.
But she has not taken it for three months since the funding ran out and Stoke-on-Trent Primary Care Trust snubbed her plea for NHS cash to take its place.
Now she is pinning her hopes on an appeal, to be heard by a PCT panel next week, which is backed by a national campaign group, a barrister and two of the country's leading cancer experts.
Mrs Dallal, aged 56, from Lightwood, Longton, has been denied the medication since February, and as her health again deteriorates she has accused the trust of delays.
The mother-of-three was an administrator for the same PCT until ill health forced her to retire.
She said: "I feel humiliated that I am having to fight for my life.
"I am battling for extra time, but the trust is holding everything up by months.
"It's as if they want to put it off until I am dead and there will no longer be a decision for them to make.
"I know I am dying but I want more time to spend with my eight-month-old grandson and maybe live long enough to even be at my son Paul's wedding in June next year."
Although not yet approved by medicines regulator the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), Avastin is licensed to be given to patients.
The drug was prescribed for Mrs Dallal by specialists at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire in February 2008 and the then Norwich Union agreed to fund it for six months.
The results were so exceptional, however, the company extended the six-month treatment limit under the policy and funded the medicine for a year.
She has tumours in her lung, spine, bones, neck and lymph nodes, but scans since starting on Avastin showed many had shrunk so much they were no longer visible.
In December, with two months of funding left, she applied for NHS cash. But a PCT panel did not assess her case until February 24 – a week after her final treatment.
Her appeal against refusal, to be heard by the trust's exceptional case panel next Tuesday, will be led by the Pamela Northcott Fund; a voluntary organisation providing advocacy and support for cancer patients denied access to new drugs.
City South MP Rob Flello is also backing her fight and has written to the trust.
The challenge alleges that the PCT failed to take guidance from local expert clinicians, did not properly assess the exceptionality of the case and breached her human rights.
A PCT spokesperson said: "The request was considered under the first part of our policy during January and then went to the very next panel."
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22 Comments
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by Michelle, Oxfordshire
Monday, June 01 2009, 9:24PM
“Vilma should not have to be wasting her energy fighting for this drug. Please PCT help her enjoy what time she has left.”
by Maen, Amman
Thursday, May 28 2009, 9:20AM
“I think the Avastin is a big bubble should be finished for example:
1. Colorectal Cancer: with Oxaliplatin was not impressive. Only with Irinotecan also a negative result in early cancer
2. Breast cancer with old product called Paclitaxel was given a good result (only progression free survival not overall survival) but in the other hand with the newest & most common drug Docetaxel with a trial called Avado trial ; it seems the result was not so impressive they tried to promoted the Hazard ratio rather than a clinical result.
3. Lung cancer : at the beginning with Paclitaxel it was made a good survival a trial called E4599 by A Sandler published at 2006 at NEJM it is add 2 months for overall survival (from 10.2 to 12.2 ) with a double dose and of course a double cost
4. Renal cell carcinoma : same story; without any advantages regarding survival
Kindly note the British health system was refused Avastin for CRC or other indications due to lack cost effectiveness
Is it worth this!!!”
by Maen ADDASSI, Amman
Thursday, May 28 2009, 9:20AM
“I think the Avastin is a big bubble should be finished for example:
1. Colorectal Cancer: with Oxaliplatin was not impressive. Only with Irinotecan also a negative result in early cancer
2. Breast cancer with old product called Paclitaxel was given a good result (only progression free survival not overall survival) but in the other hand with the newest & most common drug Docetaxel with a trial called Avado trial ; it seems the result was not so impressive they tried to promoted the Hazard ratio rather than a clinical result.
3. Lung cancer : at the beginning with Paclitaxel it was made a good survival a trial called E4599 by A Sandler published at 2006 at NEJM it is add 2 months for overall survival (from 10.2 to 12.2 ) with a double dose and of course a double cost
4. Renal cell carcinoma : same story; without any advantages regarding survival
Kindly note the British health system was refused Avastin for CRC or other indications due to lack cost effectiveness
Is it worth this!!!”
by kath, staffordshire
Monday, May 25 2009, 5:08PM
“i would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to send their support to my sister Vilma. We will all do as much as we can to get the PCT to reverse their decision and allow her the treatment she needs which will prolong her life and also help others.”
by Diego, Oxford
Monday, May 25 2009, 7:48AM
“Good luck Vilma. You shouldn't have to fight for your drugs. You are already fighting for your life. Wish you all the best.Diego”
by Pam, Stoke
Sunday, May 24 2009, 9:24PM
“I wish you all the luck in the world Vilma, You shouldn't have to fight for your treatment, all the very best! xx”
by Vikki, Staffs
Sunday, May 24 2009, 11:40AM
“I am saddened by the decision made by the trust and seeing that many people are backing Vilma, something needs to be done to help her now. We only get one chance in life to do the right thing, so let's hope we can make a difference. Good luck Vilma, you deserve this opportuity!”
by Tracy Barnes, Manchester
Saturday, May 23 2009, 12:41PM
“i really hope this lady gets the funding for the drugs she needs. Life is precious and she should never have been put in this possition. Why does it take so long to make any decisions when people are dying. Please give her a chance.”
by julie, staffs
Friday, May 22 2009, 9:10PM
“im so surprised as a daughter of a mum who lost her life to cancer i can only comment how shocked i am,my only opinion is to that is why do we give money to cancer research and only to be refused either a drug or treament i know the doctors and nurses and care workers are amazing but im so sadened to think people like my mum who was only 53 and many whome are either younger or older are missing out on drugs whome could either save there lives or make there life prolong further why is there such a price on life?”
by Ken Barnes, Stoke on Trent
Friday, May 22 2009, 6:17PM
“Vilma is a fighter and is fortunate to have the support of her close friends and family. Surely she deserves a chance to be able to spend as much time as she can with her loved ones and to be involved in as many precious family occasions as possible. Best wishes Vilma.”