Annette Brooke welcomes breast cancer drug announcement

11.16.32am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 9th Jun 2006

Annette Brooke and Breakthrough Breast Cancer welcome NICE's announcement

Local MP, Annette Brooke, welcomed a statement from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) today to offer the breast cancer drug Herceptin to women across the country.

NICE have recommended that Herceptin should be used for women with early HER2 positive breast cancer.

Annette Brooke said:

"This is an issue very close to my heart. My colleague and friend Patsy Calton MP unfortunately passed away last year as a result of this terrible disease. NICE's recommendations will give hope to women who have been diagnosed with HER2 breast cancer, and will hopefully encourage more women to attend breast screenings."

Annette Brooke recently presented the first ever Patsy Calton Award for exceptional commitment to breast cancer issues by an MP. Patsy and Annette were elected as MPs in 2001, and shared an office and a researcher in Westminster. Patsy had been Joint Chair of the All-Party Group on breast cancer and Annette took over last year to continue the good work of her friend.

Commenting on today's announcement from NICE, Jeremy Hughes, Chief Executive of Breakthrough Breast Cancer said:

"Today's announcement should ensure that all women for whom Herceptin is an appropriate treatment will receive it. A year of uncertainty and post code lottery is at last coming to an end. But this will only be the case if women are sure they can be tested to see if Herceptin is suitable for them. Nationwide, HER2 testing is being put in place and all women diagnosed with breast cancer need to know this test will be available quickly.

"Herceptin has highlighted challenges for the NHS in ensuring patients receive new, targeted and effective treatments. Breakthrough's research scientists are part of a world-wide programme to bring more treatments like this from the lab bench to the hospital bed.

"Breakthrough welcomes the speed with which NICE has assessed Herceptin under its new fast track system. Attention must also be given to ensure PCTs plan to fund such new treatments."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Breakthrough Breast Cancer is a charity committed to fighting breast cancer through research, campaigning and education. More information can be found at: www.breakthrough.org.uk or through the Breakthrough Information Line 08080 100 200.

The Breakthrough Toby Robins Breast Cancer Research Centre is the UK's first facility dedicated to breast cancer research into prevention and treatment, based in the Mary-Jean Mitchell Green Building at The Institute of Cancer Research.