Macmillan's response to NICE's decision to recommend kidney cancer drug

Responding to the decision by NICE to recommend Pazopanib as a first line treatment for cancer patients with renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer|), Mike Hobday, Head of Policy at Macmillan Cancer Support, said:

'This is excellent news for cancer patients with kidney cancer. This decision recognises the need to fund drugs that improve the quality and length of life for cancer patients with rarer cancers.

'We hope that the Cancer Drugs Fund, £50 million this financial year and up to £200 million next will mean that many more patients with rarer cancers, like kidney will now have access to the treatments that their doctors recommend.' 

We want people with rarer cancers to have fairer access to clinically effective drugs, regardless of what type of cancer they have, or where they live. To make this a reality, it’s absolutely vital that the Government’s Cancer Drugs Fund supports people living with rarer cancers. To achieve this, we need the public’s help. We’re urging people to add their name to our online petition at www.macmillan.org.uk/cancerdrugs| and forward this link to their friends and family.

Together, we can help people with rarer cancers get the treatment they need.

For further information, please contact:

Julie Wills, Assistant Media & PR Officer, Macmillan Cancer Support

020 7840 4933 (Out of hours 07801 307 068)

Notes to Editors:

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.

Call the Macmillan Support Line| on 0808 808 00 00, Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm. Calls are free, including from mobiles.