andyworthington 0 Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 Hi Guys, Hoping you maybe able to be of some help. I co run a malignant melanoma fundraising and patient support group Factor 50 www.factor50.org.uk . As you will be aware this is the illness that took Sir Bobby. There is a new drug Ipilimumab, also known as Yervoy, which has recently been licensed for patients with advanced melanoma. In trials people who were told they were terminal are still alive 4+ years later and counting. NICE, the NHS body that reviews and approves new treatments thinks, at around £70,000, it's too expensive and have provisionally declined to approve it for NHS use. This decision is now under review, after a concerted campaign a group of MP's have tabled an Early Day Motion to get this debated in parliament www.parliament.gov.uk/edm/2010-12/2362 we are trying to get people who's MP's are not signed up to contact them asking them to do it. If you don't know how to contact your MP here are the details www.findyourmp.parliament.uk . Ipilimumab is the biggest step forward in treatment of melanoma in 40 years, it needs to be freely available to every patient. Any help any of you can be in pushing this would be greatly appreciated and if anyone can repost this on other Toon forums i'd be eternally grateful. if anyone needs any further info or I can be of any help andyworthington.factor50@googlemail.com Cheers Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trophyshy 7083 Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 Done. A truly horrific disease, I hadn't heard of this new development so I'm grateful for the information, encouraging news. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyworthington 0 Posted November 6, 2011 Author Share Posted November 6, 2011 Cheers trophyshy, really appreciate that, we need to shout this from the rooftops. We started Factor 50 in 2007 because of personal circumstance ( my niece is a sufferer who luckily was caught early, Gill who I run it with lost a 30 year old friend ) when we realised how little funding melanoma research got compared with other cancers, you're right it is a truly vile disease. Not going to stop banging on the door until people take notice, thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peasepud 59 Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 I see our Bridget aint on there although she may be a wee bit busy at the moment Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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