A new revolutionary cancer treatment described by patients straight “A total change”is available from Friday, April 11, through the National British Health System (NHS).
Treatment slows down the evolution of Archive Photo Mamar Cancer
Known as the name CapivaSentibthe substance has demonstrated during the studies performed that it slows down the spread of the most common form of incurable breast cancer. Administered with a hormonal therapy already available, it doubled the period when the treatment stops the progression of cancer cells, according to Sky News.
“I no longer look like a dying person”said Elen Hughes, a patient who uses the medicine in February this year. “I see myself as a person who lives fully and will continue to live as much as possible.“
Fewer side effects
Elen Hughes, in the north of Wales, was first diagnosed with primary breast cancer in 2008. Eight years later, at 46 years old and mother of three young children, found out that the disease recurred and expanded.
She argues that the treatment with Capivitsertib, which she could access through the private system, not only to prolong her life, but also improves her quality, with fewer side effects than previous drugs.
It also delayed the need for more aggressive treatments, such as chemotherapy.
“What people do not understand is that they see statistics and say that (therapy) works for eight months instead of two, or how long it takes.”says Elen Hughes.
Decades of research
The National Institute for Health and Excellence in Care (NICE) has approved the use of Capivitsertib in the public system after two decades of research conducted by British teams.
Nicholas Turner, professor at Institute of Cancer Research, who led the study, told Sky News that it is “A great success story of British science.”
The new drug is suitable for tumors of patients with mutations or changes in PIK3CA, AKT1 or PTEN genes, present in about half of people with advanced breast cancer.
Turner says hundreds of patients could benefit immediately, and over time their number could increase to thousands.
“We need new drugs to help the existing therapies work longer, and here Capivitserib”.says Turner.
“It doubles the period when hormonal treatment is effective, giving patients precious time with the family.”
Turner has appealed to the emergency genetic testing of patients with advanced forms of breast cancer, to see who can benefit from the new therapy.
