Stephen McPartland, Member of Parliament for Stevenage, has added his name to calls for improved outcomes for pancreatic cancer sufferers. He is highlighting a petition for the retention of the only pancreatic cancer drug, Abraxane, on the Cancer Drugs Fund list for England.
Stephen McPartland MP said, “Pancreatic cancer is a disease that kills far too many people and for which very few treatment options are available, so it was welcome news that the chemotherapy drug Abraxane was added to the Cancer Drugs Fund list for England in March. It is the only pancreatic cancer drug and may help improve the outcomes for pancreatic cancer sufferers where survival rates are not good enough. Pancreatic cancer is the fifth biggest cancer killer in the UK and mortality rates continue to rise unlike for other types of cancer. People diagnosed with the disease currently face a chance of survival of less than 4% after 5 years, the lowest survival rate of any common cancer, with many patients being diagnosed at a point when the cancer has spread to other parts of their body.
"I was proud to help open the new Lister Macmillan Cancer Centre, a £3 million project which enhances our cancer treatment facilities locally and will continue to campaign to improve access and outcomes for cancer sufferers."
The petition calling for the retention of Abraxane on the CDF list for England can be found on Pancreatic Cancer UK's website: http://www.pancreaticcancer.org.uk/petition-page
Stephen McPartland MP spoke earlier this year in a Parliamentary debate about pancreatic cancer awareness, diagnosis and research. The debate was called after an e-petition reached the necessary 100,000 signatures to trigger a debate in Parliament.
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