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New Breast Cancer Drug Extends Lives of Terminal Patients

A new breast cancer treatment has been launched which could give terminally ill patients an extra two and half months to live.
Health - 23 May 2011   Download IconContent available for download:  
Audio | Interview with Dr Sarah Jarvis| Login to Download

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Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK. It accounts for around 16 percent of female deaths from cancer, the second most common cause of female cancer death after lung cancer. 30 percent of women diagnosed with early or localised breast cancer will eventually relapse and develop metastatic or advanced disease.

A new breast cancer treatment has been launched in the UK called Halaven� (eribulin). It is a new class of agent and the first, single-agent chemotherapy to demonstrate a statistically significant overall survival benefit in patients with heavily pre-treated advanced breast cancer compared to currently used treatments. Patients treated with Halaven survived a median of 2.5 months longer than patients who received treatment of physician�s choice.

Eribulin addresses an urgent need for new treatment options for women with advanced breast cancer who have previously received multiple treatments. The UK launch of eribulin is a step towards a drug being made available to these patients which could help give them precious extra time.

. Introduction:

A new breast cancer treatment has been launched in the UK that could help give patients precious extra time with their loved ones. Patients treated with the new drug survived an average of 2.5 months longer than patients who received treatment of a physician�s choice. This breakthrough treatment will come as welcome news to those people who have been affected by the most common cancer in the UK.

So what is the new drug and when is it available for breast cancer patients in the UK?

Joining us to discuss this further is Dr Sarah Jarvis, a GP with a special interest in Breast Cancer and Oncology and Professor Christopher Twelves, Professor and Honorary Consultant in Medical Oncology.

. Suggested Questions:

How are women affected by breast cancer in our area?

What is the new drug and how does it work?

How is it different to other treatments?

What does this new treatment mean for breast cancer patients in the UK?

Where can people go to find out more information?