Allow stage 4 cancer patients to restart therapy after a treatment break

Allow stage 4 cancer patients to restart therapy after a treatment break

Started
19 July 2021
Petition to
NHS ENGLAND
Signatures: 57,437Next Goal: 75,000
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Why this petition matters

Started by Steve Clark

Under the current NHS England policy, patients who are having successful treatment with the medicines cetuximab or panitumumab may not restart treatment if they need a break longer than 6 weeks. We believe this is unethical practice.

There are various reasons why a patient may need to take a long break during successful treatment of advanced cancer. For example:

  1. If the person has serious side effects they may need a break so they can recover
  2. Major surgery is a routine part of life with advanced cancer and can mean long breaks from treatment
  3. If treatment is so successful the person has clear scans they could stop treatment. If the cancer comes back they can't be retreated with something they know works for them

Under the current rules, a person who has been successfully treated with these drugs may not be retreated on the NHS if they have a 6 week break, instead they have to pay for the medicine themselves when it should still be available on the NHS.

All three of these examples demonstrate that the current 6-week rule is unethical and unfair.

This petition is calling for NHS England Specialist Commissioning (who are responsible for this decision) to review this rule and abolish it.

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Signatures: 57,437Next Goal: 75,000
Support now
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Decision-Makers

  • NHS ENGLAND