The cancer treatment that hasn't been used once: How patients with rare tumours are being denied lifesaving therapy available on the NHS

Life-Saving Liver Cancer Therapy Denied to Patients Despite NHS Approval

Patients suffering from liver cancer with a rare form of tumor are being unjustly denied access to a potentially life-saving treatment, even though it has already received approval for use within the National Health Service (NHS). A prominent cancer charity is speaking out, asserting that individuals affected are being ‘left in limbo’ due to the lack of implementation.

Approved Cancer Treatment Remains Unfunded

The treatment in question, known as selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT), was given the green light last year as a vital option for patients diagnosed with rare neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) located in the liver.

당시 보건부 장관이었던 앤드류 스테펜슨 당시 보건부 장관은 당시 결정에 대해 “암 환자들이 삶으로 복귀하는 데 도움이 될 뿐만 아니라 NHS 자원을 확보하고 대기자 명단을 줄이는 데 도움이 되는 결정”이라고 환영했습니다.

Lack of NHS Funding Blocks Access to SIRT

However, investigations by this publication reveal that, disconcertingly, not a single patient has been administered SIRT treatment. This is attributed to the NHS’s failure to allocate funding for the therapy, effectively preventing its availability within the healthcare system.

Charity Condemns Treatment Delay

Layla Stephen, a NET patient and director at Planets, a cancer charity, voiced strong criticism regarding the situation. ‘It is utterly unacceptable that a treatment deemed safe, effective, and cost-efficient remains inaccessible to those who desperately need it,’ she stated.

‘Individuals with NETs cannot afford to wait. They require immediate access to the most effective treatments available, not delayed by bureaucratic inaction.’

Understanding Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs)

Approximately 6,000 individuals in the UK are diagnosed with NETs annually. These tumors commonly originate in the pancreas, bowel, or lungs; however, they can also manifest in other areas of the body.

SIRT Therapy: How it Works

For many patients, surgery remains the primary treatment option in the absence of SIRT.

SIRT involves a targeted approach where millions of microscopic radioactive beads, significantly smaller than a human hair’s width, are introduced directly into the liver’s blood supply.

These microspheres strategically lodge within small blood vessels within the tumor itself. Once in place, they emit radiation directly to the cancerous cells, leading to their destruction.

NICE Recommendation and NHS Policy

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the NHS spending watchdog, has endorsed the funding of SIRT by the NHS. NICE’s assessment highlighted that SIRT offers several advantages when compared to traditional treatments like surgery and chemotherapy. These benefits include:

• Reduced side effects for patients
• Quicker recovery periods post-treatment
• Improved overall quality of life during and after treatment
• Enhanced overall survival rates

NHS Response on SIRT Implementation

An NHS spokesperson addressed the concerns, stating: ‘The NHS is currently in the process of formulating a national policy regarding SIRT. This policy aims to guarantee that all eligible patients throughout England can access the most appropriate and effective treatments available for their condition.’