A cancer patient has been forced to pay almost €40,000 from family savings to fund a potentially life-saving treatment that is available free to women with cervical cancer. “Pembro” is the drug that has helped extend cervical cancer advocate Vicky Phelan’s life; initially she funded it herself, until the State agreed to pay. This was despite it not being licensed for this form of the disease anywhere in Europe, and despite evidence that it has limited effectiveness in treating cervical cancer. The drug has been approved for melanoma and a small number of other cancers, but not the head and neck cancer Ms Waters has. Ms Waters, from Killiney, Co Dublin, is left wondering why she is being treated differently from women with cervical cancer.

Source: The Irish Times February 03, 2020 01:52 UTC