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Closed Fund cancer immunotherapy treatments beyond 2 years and for rechallenge

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Currently many cancer patients can receive immunotherapy only for a maximum of 2 years, even if it is having a positive effect on the cancer. Commit to funding immunotherapy for cancer patients on the NHS with no cap on treatment duration, and allow patients to re-access this treatment if required.

Immunotherapy is working wonders on many cancers. However, the NHS will only fund many immunotherapy treatments for a maximum of 2 years/35 cycles. Furthermore, if the cancer returns or spreads after this time, NHS rules mean many patients are not allowed to re-access these treatments if they had received them previously – even if they didn’t receive their full 2 years/35 cycles in the first round. Lives are being lost when there are effective treatments available.

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  • Related activity

    MPs investigate innovations in cancer care

    A group of MPs called the Health and Social Care Committee are looking into innovations that can transform cancer diagnosis and treatment.

    Read the Committee's press notice announcing this work.

    The Committee is considering points including:

    • What innovations have the greatest potential to transform cancer diagnosis and treatment

    • How innovations in diagnosing and treating cancer can be deployed into frontline clinical settings

    • What can be learnt about innovative cancer diagnosis and treatment from international examples of best practice

    • How workforce planning is keeping up with innovations in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer

    • How the impact of innovations in cancer diagnosis and treatment on health inequalities is taken into account

    What happens next?

    The Committee is going to conduct oral evidence sessions where it will hear from experts in the sector as well as Government and NHS officials.

    An evidence session is a hearing where MPs ask key experts, such as Ministers, academics and/or campaigners, questions on a particular topic. These experts are called "witnesses" and they help MPs to gain a deeper understanding of the topic.

    The Committee will then consider all the evidence it has taken and publish a report of its findings with recommendations to the Government on any changes that might be needed.

    For more information about the inquiry, visit the Committee's inquiry page.

    What is the Health and Social Care Committee?

    The Health and Social Care Committee is a cross-party group of MPs that conduct inquiries into issues in Health and Social Care in the UK.

    The Health and Social Care Committee is a select committee.

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    This petition will stay open until 20 December 2022.