Kadcyla is the miracle drug that is keeping me and many, many other women alive. It is currently under review by NICE as to whether it is cost effective and they are playing a game of brinkmanship with Roche, who manufacture it, about the price. It is expensive, about £70-90,000 per year. A cost which I'm absolutely certain the relations and friends of those women would say is worth every penny.
What NICE is proposing is to stop new patients from having it, whilst those already on it will continue. I'm fairly sure that eventually NICE will also stop those already on Kadcyla from receiving it. To this end there is a petition which I would be most grateful if you dear reader would sign. The link is here.
Kadcyla Petition
Thank you.
On a more personal level I had my fifth round of the lovely, expensive Kadcyla and this was in spite of the fact that my iron levels are very low. This explains why I have been quite so knackered. So what to do? Well the short answer is a blood transfusion, which will be happening next week. Over the years I have donated over 50 pints of blood so it will be a completely new experience to be on the receiving end. I am told that it takes a minimum of 3 hours to give the transfusion, according to my brother who seems to know about these things, it cannot be given any quicker as this is likely to damage the blood. I am reliably informed by those who have had a transfusion for low iron levels, I will feel like a whole new woman, which I am very much looking forward to. I will also feel like Mo Farrah although I'm not entirely certain that I'll be running any great distance anytime soon.
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