400 women could be offered a life-extending cervical cancer drug

Following new recommendations from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, a life-extending drug for advanced cervical cancer could be given to NHS patients in England.

Known as ‘pembrolizumab’, the drug is able to give people with incurable tumours extra months to live. It is already distributed in Scotland.

Funded by the Cancer Drugs Fund, which aims to making promising treatments available earlier while data is still being gathered on cost-effectiveness, an estimated 400 women may be offered it within the next three years.

The same drug that is currently being evaluated to help women with cervical cancer is already used to assist with breast, bowel, lung and skin cancer. It is given whilst patients receive chemotherapy and helps the body’s immune system to seek out and destroy cancerous cells.

Samantha Dixon, CEO of Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, said: ‘Treatments are far too limited for those living with advanced cervical cancer and this provides patients with valuable options, hope and most importantly time.

‘Cervical cancer affects women of all ages, many are young. They have families, children, jobs, caring responsibilities.

‘Pembrolizumab can slow the progression of cervical cancer and the impact of this on those who are eligible for the treatment cannot be understated.’

Cervical cancer affects the neck of the womb – nearly all cases are caused by high-risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infections. Screening for HPV using a smear test can help spot these infections early and prevent cancers by treating cell changes before they turn into cancer.

NHS England’s Director of Specialised Commissioning and Interim Commercial Medicines, John Stewart, said: ‘After nearly 15 years without a new treatment for this type of advanced cervical cancer, this first immunotherapy marks a significant step forward that will provide hundreds of people with precious time with their loved ones.

‘This is the 242rd treatment offered through the Cancer Drugs Fund that enables the NHS to provide faster access to cutting-edge cancer treatments for patients.’

According to Cancer Research UK, a harrowing 2,600 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year in England with many of them being in their early 30s, making the breakthrough of this drug all the more valued.

Image: Angiola Harry