THOUSANDS of women with advanced breast cancer have access to two new “life-changing” medicines on the NHS.
Charities said the approvals were a “memorable milestone” for patients with incurable tumors.
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Both drugs have been proven to give women — many in their thirties, forties, and fifties — extra precious months with their loved ones.
Studies show that patients given Trodelvy, also known as sacituzumab govitecan, survived for almost six months longer.
It works by slowing tumor growth in people with triple negative breast cancerwhich is the deadliest form of the disease and is more common in younger women.
Campaigners touted the decision by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to approve the drug as a “landmark” day, after initially rejecting it over cost.
About 650 women per year are expected to benefit from this.
The watchdog has also given the green light for the use of a second therapy, alpelisib, for routine use in the NHS†
Also known as Piqray, studies have shown it can give patients an extra eight months.
Breast cancer patients will have their tumor genes tested and those with a specific mutation called PIK3CA will be offered the drug, about 2,800 women a year.
Baroness Delyth Morgan, Chief Executive of Breast Cancer Now, said: “It is absolutely fantastic news that after a preliminary rejection in March, alpelisib with fulvestrant has now been recommended for routine use by the NHS, giving hope to thousands of patients.
Today also marks the long-awaited approval of the life-prolonging drug Trodelvy for certain women living with incurable triple-negative secondary breast cancer.
“This landmark decision will provide a new, effective treatment for these women and crucially give them the hope of having invaluable extra months to live and do what matters most to them and their loved ones.”
Piqray is the 100th accelerated cancer treatment offered to patients under the NHS Cancer Drugs Fund.
Secretary of Health Steve Barclay said: “These new drugs will benefit thousands of cancer patients across the country, giving them more precious moments with their loved ones and a better quality of life.”
A new pill was approved last month to reduce the chances of the disease returning after a tumor is removed.
The new twice daily pillabemaciclib, created by Eli Lilly, will be given to more than 4,000 healthcare women.
Doctors said it is suitable for women at high risk of recurrence and who have had surgery.
These women have hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative, node-positive early breast cancer.
It is the most common form of the disease, accounting for about 70 percent of all cases.
In early breast cancers, it is estimated to return in about 30 percent of people after the first treatment.