Woman on chemotherapy ineligible for cancer drug

A mother-of-five living with incurable secondary breast cancer, which has spread to her liver and bones, has been told she cannot receive a drug that might prolong her life as she is on her third round of chemotherapy.

NHS England has access to Enhertu, but only for patients who have had one or two previous lines of chemotherapy.

Laura Stanford, from Minster on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent, who recently became a grandmother and has a daughter who is due to get married this December, said she cannot afford to get the drug privately.

A spokesperson for NHS England said: "We recognise how important access to Enhertu is for people living with secondary breast cancer and their families."

Laura, who was diagnosed with primary breast cancer in 2022, said: "If I can't have Enhertu, I think I have two or three options left and they are the options that are less likely to work for me.

"I just feel like we should be given the chance to try it.

"The only reason we can't try is because we had moved on to a third round of chemotherapy - we had to, it's not our fault.

"Emotionally, it's devastating, absolutely devastating.

"It's unfair because it's left women, a whole load of women in a catchment area that had to move on because of progression to a third chemotherapy and now [are] not entitled to the drug."

The family is trying to raise money to buy the drug privately.

Faith, Laura's daughter, said: "It's very hard and very upsetting.

"It's not fair and it's a lot of pressure on us to help keep mum her longer."

The NHS England spokesperson added: "NHS guidance is always based on the latest clinical evidence to ensure patients receive the best and safest care.

"Eligibility criteria for this therapy has been translated directly from the trial evidence and the patient group assessed by NICE, which found Enhertu is safe and effective for those who have previously received only one or two courses of chemotherapy."

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