Dear All
On Thursday, Jillian Creasy, the health spokesperson for the Green Party, is visiting Breast Cancer Care’s office in London. As part of her visit, Jillian has agreed to answer questions that people may have about the Green Party’s policies and how they might have an impact on people affected by breast cancer.
This is a great opportunity to question one of the parties on their health policies ahead of the election. If you have a question you would like to ask, please post it below – we will endeavour to ask as many as we can and let you know what Jillian’s response was.
It would be great to have as many questions from you to ask her. We will then share her answers with everyone.
Best wishes
Anna
Forum Coordinator
Dear Anna,
I have found myself thinking about the cost to the environment of my cancer treatment (barrier nursing and the total items/medications/products etc must be vast) but I have a concern that the reduction in drugs being approved through the cancer drugs fund. I wonder what Ms Creasey believes about the ethics of having emerging (costly - yes) treatments denied to patients. I’d also highlight that NICE guidelines are fallible, for instance I was denied genetic testing as under the guidelines in 2009, I was seen as a low risk, but in fact I had a brca1 mutation. So another question, what can be done to keep guidelines in line with development of treatments?
Many thanks, Rattles
Dear Anna,
I’mso glad my question was asked and pleased that BCC put a my question about the treatments denied to women with secondary breast cancer being denied treatment. I’m not so convinced by the response which does not address inequalities in treatments.
In my case I was not eligible for genetic testing under NICE guidelines, it was accessing a research study which led to a final diagnosis and by then I had developed another breast cancer. Quite apart from the cost to me as an individual, my family, my child, my employer I had to be treated again. If I go on to develop secondary breast cancer, the likely lack of drugs can seemingly be justified on the basis of rationalization of treatment and services?! Really? I am not only unconvinced by the arguments, I do not believe such a position can be justified in modern British society.
Rattles
Hi Rattles,
I read your questions and the responses with interest. I am not sure if you saw a programme recently on tv… title something £2 Milion a week on the NHS where would you spend it? it looked at costs accross the spectrum from the cost of a specialist nurse to support an eldery carer look after her husband who had dementia (the nurse gave advice, not ohysical care, £375 per year) which equated to 19 blood tests, yet this elderly carer is saving the NHS £1000s by caring for her loved one, to cancer drugs cisting eyc etc. The crux was - It is a finite pot, if you had the power to spend the money, where would you spend it, knowing you would be having to deny other areas. It was open to comments from twitter, and i felt illustrated.some of the difficulties the NHS faces.
There are so many anomalies within it, with different rules applying and people moving to access treatments.
We have an amazing health care system but it is too stretched in every direction. I have no answers, but was intetested in your post.
LL x
Hi Lexi,
I know of the programme you mention, but my issue is that any discussion about cost and health provision leads to a point where unpalatable choices are seemingly weighed up. I know that my treatment has run to around a million pounds. In the words of the awful loreal advert - ‘am I worth it?’ Probably not if you measure my life in terms of simple financial matrices. If I have a mutation, does that mean I should be more, or less entitled to treatment? My daughter will be able to gave her embryos screened. Is that acceptable? Do we deny individuals treatment on the basis of lifestyle? What about anyone injuring themselves while engaged in a dangerous sport?
As you you can see, I just don’t think measuring out gthe cost of blood tests is compatible with making sound clinical decisions taking into account individual need. The cancer drugs fund was underspending and only 11% was used for breast cancer even though it is one of the most common cancers.
Its good to debate these issues. They effect us all, most especially when we have poor health.
Rattles, x