Pain relief cancer drug on NHS thanks to Hampshire sisters (From This is Hampshire)

Pain relief cancer drug on NHS thanks to Hampshire sisters

10:00am Saturday 2nd February 2008

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THEY had to watch their father die a painful death, knowing there was a drug out there that could help him.

Dave Salisbury, from Bishopstoke, died from mesothelioma two years ago, aged 72.

Now, after two years of campaigning for that drug to be handed out on the NHS, Dave's family is celebrating a landmark decision for it to be available on the health service.

Alimta can prolong a patient's life and slow down the progression of mesothelioma, a cancer that affects the lungs and is linked to asbestos exposure.

The drug is set to be in demand in the city as Southampton is a hotspot for mesothelioma due to its shipbuilding and industrial past.

Dave's daughter Lynne Squibb, from Woolston, said: "It's great news, the fact they are introducing it straight away is brill-iant.

"There is now the opportunity for people to have palliative chemotherapy to help not just reduce the tumour but also quality of life issues.

"There is a lot that goes with mesothelioma, including pain, restlessness, a terrible cough and fatigue.

"In about 40 to 50 per cent of patients, Alimta can shrink the tumour and prolong their life. In about 70 to 80 per cent, their quality of life is vastly improved. Alimta offers people hope as well."

Although there is still no cure for mesothelioma, Lynne is convinced Alimta would have benefited her father, who worked all his life at Eastleigh's railway works.

She said: "We asked for Alimta for him, but were refused. After that, he only lived for a couple of months.

"We have been campaigning for Alimta to be available on the NHS for a couple of years."

Following Dave's death, Lynne and her sister Diane McLellan set up the Hampshire Asbestos Support and Awareness Group.

Southampton City Primary Care Trust (PCT) has given the go-ahead for Alimta to be available following a recommendation by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE).

NICE originally made the recommendation last summer but an appeal by Birmingham North and East PCT against this delayed Alimta being made available.

Southampton Itchen MP John Denham has also welcomed the news. He said: "I am very pleased, now that NICE has made a final decision, that our PCT has decided to implement it immediately rather than waiting the normal three months.

"Southampton has a higher incidence of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases than most of the rest of the country owing to our industrial past."

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