Letter: Shropshire Star

Found this on the letter pages of the Shropshire Star tonight. Yet another example of people literally dying from anglophobia.

MP could do more for cancer sufferers

I'm sure sufferers from cancer in the Telford constituency will welcome David Wright's support for Beating Bowel Cancer's Loud Tie Appeal, although I believe there is much more work he could be undertaking which would make more of a difference.

I e-mailed him at his House of Commons e-mail address on August 25 asking about the delays to approving new anti-cancer drugs by the National Institute for Health & Clinical Excellence (NICE). No reply has been received. Since Commons e-mail addresses are not compulsory and since the system sent my e-mail back to me in confirmation, why have I not even had the courtesy of an acknowledgemen t?

There is a new bowel cancer drug, Avastin, which is awaiting approval. This is the first of a new type of drug - monoclonal antibodies -which will enable cancer to be managed as a long-term condition. My consultant thinks Avastin will help 10 times as many patients as Herceptin.

NICE is going to be clogged with applications for similar drugs in the near future as they become available. Avastin is due to be approved by NICE for the 2008 NHS budget in England but should Be approved for use in Scotland by the end of this month.

Why do patients in England have to wait far longer than in Scotland for new life-saving drugs and what is our MP doing about it? Keep wearing the silly ties, David, but do some real work towards helping your constituents and others who are fighting an effective killer.

Eric Boyden
Tefford