UK brain tumour charities have joined forces to raise awareness and lobby government and make them aware of the issues faced by the brain tumour community. We are delighted that under the chair of John Bercow MP for Buckingham, the All Party Parliamentary Group (for which Ali’s Dream is providing the secretariat) is supporting us in our cause and hope that together we can make a real difference during 2006.
The group met for the first official meeting on 19 th December 2005, to discuss key issues in the fight for greater access to treatment for brain tumour patients. Presentations were made by Dr Barry Pizer, Consultant Paediatric Oncologist at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and Professor Garth Cruickshank, Professor of Neurosurgery at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Edgbaston.
Neuro-oncologists, neuro-surgeons, and other brain tumour experts are faced with the moral dilemma that they can inform their patients that licensed drugs are available but that they cannot be provided on the NHS due to funding restrictions. Clinicians have to write to their Primary Care Trusts and ask for exceptional funding, which is often refused.
Members committed to raising the profile of brain tumours amongst parliamentarians to ensure greater funding and greater access to treatment for brain tumour patients. An Early Day Motion was tabled in January and has already attracted 81 signatures.
NICE recommendation update
On 30th December 2005 – NICE dealt a blow to the brain tumour community. They issued a recommendation that, ground-breaking treatments which are proven to extend life expectancy for sufferers of aggressive brain tumours should not be funded on
the NHS.
The treatments being appraised, carmustine implants and temozolomide, have been proven to extend life expectancy by at least two months and both are available throughout Europe and the USA to treat high-grade glioma’s, the most aggressive form of brain tumour.
Ali’s Dream along with fellow brain tumour charities, scientists and clinicians do not agree with the preliminary recommendations, this would deny hope to thousands of patients and their families. Both carmustine implants and temozolomide represent the first major breakthrough in brain tumour treatment in twenty tears. If this recommendation becomes the decision the UK will be left behind Europe and the US – this goes against the aim of the National Cancer Plan.
What’s more if the approval of new drugs becomes a barrier, research in this area is likely to come to a standstill. Drug companies will not invest and brain tumour research charities such as ours will lose the will to carry on. Time is not on the side of patients diagnosed with a high-grade glioma. Incidence is irrelevant when you are the patient or the family or friend of an individual diagnosed with a brain tumour. Access to the best treatment available should be a given in the UK as well as the rest of the world.
All brain tumour charities and other interested parties have written to NICE. Indeed 36 clinicians got together to draft a letter which was sent to Patricia Hewitt. NICE met again on 28 th February, we expect to hear the outcome at the beginning of April… watch this space...
MP Lobbying – How you can help
DONATE NOW |
Ali's Dream needs your help in the fight against childhood brain tumors by way of donation.
If you would like to help us in this fight, please click on the button below and donate using Just Giving.
It only takes a minute and will help us more than you can imagine in our battle against this dreadful illness. Everyone working for Ali's Dream is voluntary, therefore every penny donated goes directly towards research into finding a cure. Please click on the button below. |