Women being denied 43p breast cancer drug which can save lives

Thousands of breast cancer sufferers are having their lives "needlessly being put at risk" by being denied access to inexpensive drugs which can stop the disease spreading.

An estimated 27,000 women are missing out on bisphosphonates every year according to a charity's research - a treatment which costs an estimated 43p a day per patient.

A lack of clear guidance over who should fund the drugs is largely causing the delay, with Breast Cancer Now describing the hold-up as "bureaucratic inertia".

Some experts have claimed bisphosphonates could prevent about 10% of breast cancer deaths, as well as save the NHS millions of pounds every year.

The treatment, which is already used for patients with advanced prostate cancer, make it harder for cancer cells to survive by altering bone tissue.

Only a quarter of the 125 specialists polled by Breast Cancer Now have introduced bisphosphonates in treatment plans for their breast cancer patients - and while 17% have partially brought them in, 60% of those surveyed are yet to make the drugs available.

Baroness Delyth Morgan, the charity's chief executive, said: "While bisphosphonates are not routinely available to all eligible breast cancer patients, women's lives are needlessly being put at risk.

"These are cheap and widely-available drugs and the overwhelming evidence of their ability to save lives should have changed practice by now."

Research shows women with postmenopausal breast cancer had 28% less chance of their cancer coming back when taking bisphosphonates, and the drugs also cut the risk of dying from the disease in the first decade after diagnosis by 18%When taken intravenously, the cost of bisphosphonates can be as little as 4p per day.

Professor Ian Smith, chairman of the Breast Cancer Clinical Reference Group, said: "It is deeply concerning that such an inexpensive treatment known to improve survival for women with breast cancer is not being made available to all that could benefit.

"In order to deliver the best quality breast cancer care to UK patients, the introduction of these drugs for all eligible women must now be our top priority."

An NHS England spokesman said: "The report of the independent Cancer Taskforce included a specific recommendation on the use of bisphosphonates.

"We continue to work to realise the ambitions of the report and will shortly be publishing an update on progress made."

NHS England said decisions on the funding of the drugs were currently made locally.

But it said their use would be considered by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) in forthcoming guidance.