NHS England is proposing changes to the way its Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) operates, in order that it delivers maximum benefit for patients, within the resources available. Clinicians and cancer specialists believe the changes, if adopted, would: improve patient access to the most clinically effective drugs available through the fund; encourage pricing that delivers value […]

Cancer patients are increasingly positive about their care with 89% rating it as excellent or very good, a national survey shows. This comes as the NHS is treating more patients for cancer than ever before. The national cancer patient experience survey 2014, published today, asked over 110,000 cancer patients across the country for their views on […]

NHS England has issued the following statement in response to an article in the Independent today (Saturday 6 September), which claims the NHS ignored offers of therapy at a Czech proton clinic. A Spokesperson from NHS England said: “The NHS has secured adequate capacity in established high quality international proton beam treatment centres.  These have […]

NHS England today (Friday) praised NHS staff for referring and treating an increasing number of patients for cancer as more people step forward for treatment early. Publishing the latest statistics on cancer waiting time standards, it said a welcome rise in referrals and treatment rates had put pressure on hospitals. It announced the creation of […]

NHS England has today pledged a £160m boost over two years for the Cancer Drugs Fund, giving more patients access to innovative drugs not routinely available on the NHS. Two new drugs will now also be added to the Fund; enzalutamide for prostate cancer and lenalidomide for a group of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome, a […]

The UK is set to become the world leader in ground-breaking genetic research into cancer and rare diseases, which will transform how diseases are diagnosed and treated, thanks to£300million of investment, the Prime Minister announced today (1 August). The four year project will allow scientists to do pioneering new research to decode 100,000 human genomes […]

NHS England Essex today publishes its report into the safety of five cancer services at Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust (CHUFT). The Incident Management Team (IMT) – set up to undertake the review – is reporting on its findings relating to five cancer pathways at the Trust: Brain and Central Nervous System; Cancer of […]

NHS England is supporting a campaign launched by The Sunday Times newspaper, which aims at improving cancer care. The campaign focuses on swifter diagnosis, faster and more consistent treatment across the country and more advanced radiotherapy. National Medical Director, Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, said NHS England has ambitions to raise cancer survival to match the […]

Nine hundred cancer patients every year could benefit from three new drugs which have been added to the Cancer Drugs Fund. The drugs Albumin Bound Paclitaxel, Bevacizumab and Cabozantinib are to be used to treat pancreatic cancer, brain tumours in children and thryroid cancer respectively. Albumin Bound Paclitaxel(this document is no longer available here but […]

Five hundred women every year could benefit from a new drug which has been added to the Cancer Drugs Fund to treat advanced cervical cancer. The drug bevacizumab (Avastin) is already used in the treatment of other cancers, however this is the first time it will be available on the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) for […]