October 2003

Cancerbackup published data gathered by healthcare company Roche revealing substantial differences throughout the UK in access to the breast cancer treatment Herceptin. The data showed that just 14% of women in the Midlands had access to the treatment, compared to 61% in the South West. Following publication of the report, Health Secretary John Reid announced a government investigation into postcode prescribing. Cancerbackup issued a statement supporting the government's decision and called for such investigations to be systematically carried out with full publication of the results.

Press release

CancerBACUP calls for action over dramatic new evidence of postcode prescribing, 16 October 2003

June 2003

Together with Breakthrough Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer Care and the UK Breast Cancer Coalition, Cancerbackup produced a report on the implementation of trastuzumab (Herceptin) for breast cancer. The report was based on responses from Primary Care Trusts in England on the systems they have in place for monitoring implementation. The report found that PCT’s could not be sure that implementation of NICE guidelines was taking place because their monitoring systems were inadequate.