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Macmillan responds to NICE's decision not to recommend lung cancer drug

29 June 2011

Responding to the decision by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) not to recommend Erlotinib as a treatment for non-small-cell lung cancer, Mike Hobday, Head of Policy at Macmillan Cancer Support, said:

'This is very disappointing news, particularly as lung cancer has one of the lowest survival outcomes of any cancer [1].

'Every cancer patient should get the drugs their doctor recommends, regardless of what type of cancer they have, or where they live. It is unacceptable this isn’t always happening at present.

'To ensure all cancer patients get better access to treatments, it is vital that this cancer drug and those for rarer cancers [2] are placed on the priority list of the Government’s Cancer Drugs Fund.'

For more information and support call Macmillan free on 0808 808 00 00 or visit please visit www.macmillan.org.uk/cancerdrugs

For further information, please contact:

Julie Wills, Assistant Media & PR Officer, Macmillan Cancer Support
020 7840 4933 (out of hours 07801 307068)

Notes to Editors:

[1] Office for National Statistics. Cancer Survival. http://www.statistics.gov.uk/CCI/nugget.asp?ID=861 (Accessed June 2011)

[2] Rarer cancers are ‘other cancers’ and exclude the four most common cancers (prostate, colorectal, lung and breast (female) cancers) and non-melanoma skin cancer.

There are two main types of primary lung cancer, small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. For more information, visithttp://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Cancertypes/Lung/Lungcancer.aspx.

About Macmillan Cancer Support

Macmillan Cancer Support improves the lives of people affected by cancer, providing practical, medical, emotional and financial support. Working alongside people affected by cancer, Macmillan works to improve cancer care. One in three of us will get cancer. Two million of us are living with it. If you are affected by cancer Macmillan can help.

For more information about Macmillan Cancer Support, visit www.macmillan.org.uk or freephone 0800 500 800 for an information pack.

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Macmillan Cancer Support, registered charity in England and Wales (261017), Scotland (SC039907) and the Isle of Man (604). A company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales company number 2400969. Isle of Man company number 4694F. Registered office: 89 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7UQ.