Plea For Drug Approval

Calls are intensifying for a life-extending cancer drug to be approved, one week before the SMC rules.

Abiraterone is regularly prescribed to men, with terminal prostate cancer, after chemotherapy.

Prostate Cancer UK wants the Scottish Medicines Consortium to approve the drug for use before chemotherapy begins.

Survival rates are increasing across Scotland, although the number of men dying from the disease rose by 39 in Fife in 2013.

Owen Sharp, Chief Executive of Prostate Cancer UK, said: "These figures show just how much men in Scotland need their friends. The SMC's decision on whether to approve abiraterone before chemotherapy in a few days time brings this whole issue into focus. Few things could do more to keep friendships alive than the approval of a life-enhancing and life-extending treatment for men with incurable prostate cancer.

"Men United is our movement for everyone who believes that men are worth fighting for, and I have that whole movement behind me when I reiterate our call for the SMC to do the right thing and approve this treatment for use in Scotland. The treatment is widely available in England via the Cancer Drugs Fund, and it's vital that it becomes routinely available throughout Scotland and indeed the whole of the UK as soon as possible." 

Commenting on the wider Men United campaign Sharp continued: "As figures published today show, men in Scotland believe quite emphatically that seeing their friends is good for their health. The majority also want to see more of their friends, and either did or would turn to them for emotional support in the event of being diagnosed with prostate cancer. It’s because of findings such as these that the next phase of our Men United campaign is to focus on keeping friendships alive. 

"I would urge men to heed the rallying call to join Men United. Not only will they help us beat a disease that has been lagging behind other cancers for too long, but it will help them reconnect with their friends too. We want men aged over 50 who are seeing their friendships drift to take the initiative to get together and do something for Men United. With prostate cancer due to become the most common cancer by 2030, they never know just when they may need their friends."