Rule change for cancer drug brings fresh hope

A CANCER sufferer has been handed fresh hope that his battle for a life-prolonging drug could soon be over.

The family of Paul Popham, of Morriston, are hoping he is a step closer to being prescribed kidney cancer drug Sutent following a rule change by a Government watchdog.

The 63-year-old was given only nine months to live back in October.

Now, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) has opted to extend the threshold at which drugs are labelled cost-effective — giving terminally ill patients like Mr Popham more chance of having the expensive drugs they need approved.

Mr Popham's daughter, Joanne, who has fought tirelessly for her dad to win funding for the £30,000-a-year drug, said she hoped the decision would impact on the outcome of her dad's appeal, which is expected today.

Miss Popham, aged 39, of Llangyfelach, said: "Everything seems to be coming together.

"It's fantastic that it's happened — it's wonderful news for all cancer sufferers. I feel like it's going to be fine, and I feel positive. It's the waiting that's been difficult." Her dad's case is going before bosses at Swansea Local Health Board for consideration today, but, she said, if the appeal was rejected, she was unsure whether it would be overturned in the wake of the Nice decision.

She added: "My dad's appeal is taking place today — if it goes ahead, it's great. If the decision does not go our way, do we still have to appeal and do we have to wait for the new guidelines before we appeal again?

"The guidelines seem fantastic, but what does it mean to my father?"

Despite the fight, Miss Popham said her dad, of Ullswater Crescent, who first started to suffer kidney problems in 1979, had remained positive.

Back in 2005, he was told he had a cancerous tumour on his kidney.

And in August, last year, the former Alcoa fitter and turner was told the disease had spread and chemotherapy would do nothing to stop it.

An 8,000-signature petition was handed to AMs Dai Lloyd and Bethan Jenkins by Miss Popham, calling on the Assembly to allow Welsh patients to be given Sutent.

Only last month, Assembly Health Minister Edwina Hart pledged a clinical audit into the funding of the drug. The Gower AM said decisions made by health bodies, including NHS trusts and local health boards, would be closely looked at following the inconsistent prescribing of Sutent across Wales.

A study by NHS Wales medical director Professor Mike Harmer revealed during 2008 there were 73 requests for Sutent in Wales.

Only 23 patients had their treatment agreed, while 48 had their treatment rejected — six taking their cases to appeal. All patients living in Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend recommended for the treatment by their consultants were given the drug, but in Swansea none of the 14 patients received the drug.

An Assembly spokesman said: "Nice guidance applies to Wales and England. Any changes to the appraisal system for new drugs on the NHS by Nice will apply equally to England and Wales.

"Professor Phillip Routledge is looking at the issue of funding drugs either awaiting appraisal by Nice for use on the NHS or drugs that have been appraised but not approved, and what further guidance is needed for the NHS to ensure there is a consistent approach to access new drugs across Wales.

"The Health Minister, Edwina Hart, expects to receive his report later this month for her consideration."