Breast cancer drug will be available in Jersey

Recent research in the US has suggested the risk of tumours recurring with certain types of breast cancer can be cut by up to 50% if Herceptin is taken in the early stages of the disease.

However, the drug has not yet been licensed for use in the early stages and a decision as to whether it is appropriate will be left up to individual clinicians within agreed limits.

The decision means patients in Jersey will not face the ‘postcode lottery’ that is the situation in many parts of the UK.