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Cancerbackup has merged with Macmillan. Together we can provide a wealth of high quality information about cancer.

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In response to today's decision by NICE to reconsider its decision not to recommend Pemetrexed disodium (Alimta) for NHS mesothelioma patients, Cancerbackup gives the following response:

"We are very pleased that NICE will be looking at this important treatment again, following the recent appeal", says Joanne Rule, Cancerbackup Chief Executive. "Resulting from exposure to Asbestos, mesothelioma takes a long time to develop and when the cancer is diagnosed, patients often have a very poor prognosis. As a cancer with very few treatment options, we hope NICE will approve this treatment which helps to control symptoms such as pain and can give patients vital extra months. In the absence of NICE guidance, Primary Care Trusts should continue to prescribe pemetrexed for the patients who need it, as Health Service Circular 1999/176 clearly states."

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For more information during office hours please contact John Cox 0207 920 7218 or jcox@cancerbackup.org or Michelle Rowley on 0207 920 7219 or mrowley@cancerbackup.org For press enquiries outside office hours please call 07973 308 346.

1. Cancerbackup is the only national charity that specialises in providing information on all types of cancer.
2. All Cancerbackup services are free to cancer patients, their relatives and friends.
3. Cancerbackup Freephone Information Service: 0808 800 1234 (Mon-Fri, 9am-8pm). Cancerbackup Centres can be found in St Bartholomew's Hospital, Charing Cross Hospital, the London Clinic, The Christie Hospital, Ipswich Hospital, Nottingham City Hospital, Coventry's University Hospital and Jersey. The charity's interactive website can be found at www.cancerbackup.org.uk
4. Cancerbackup, as a charity, receives 54% of its funding from individuals, 11% from charitable trusts, 5% from grants, 14% from companies, 2% from investments and 14% from its trading company. Pharmaceutical companies contributed 9% of the total 2005/06 income.
5. In April 2006 Cancerbackup changed its name from CancerBACUP, so that the charity's name better represents what the charity does – provides information, understanding and support to anyone affected by cancer.