Advanced Breast Cancer Patient, Linda Johnson, Hands 14,300 Signatures to Parliament to Demand Immediate Halt to Cuts to Cancer Drugs Fund

LONDON, March 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

PRESS RELEASE FOR UK MEDIA ONLY

Linda Johnson, 57, who lives with advanced breast cancer and represents a group of women from Essex with the condition, has delivered a petition of 14,300 names to Parliament, calling for an immediate halt to cuts to the Cancer Drugs Fund.

On Monday 16 March, Mrs Johnson delivered the petition to her MP, John Baron, who Chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer.

Mrs Johnson says:

"I am grateful to John Baron for meeting with me and accepting my petition, which I delivered on behalf of all women who live with advanced breast cancer in England. Whilst it is brilliant to know that John supports my cause, we now need MPs from all parties to back access to cancer treatments that are proven to extend life and put an immediate halt on the cuts to the Cancer Drugs Fund. I have seen first-hand that these treatments can give extra months with loved ones. I do not believe that we should start rationing the medicines that can offer this precious extra time. The removal of life-extending treatments from the Fund must be stopped now and access guaranteed for all those who need them."

Mr Baron has released the following statement to the media:

John Baron MP accepts petition from Linda Johnson   

MP congratulates constituent on her bravery  

On Monday 16 March, in Parliament, John Baron MP accepted a petition from one of his constituents, Mrs Linda Johnson, regarding the delisting of treatments from the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF). The CDF was established in 2010 to enable cancer patients to access cutting-edge treatments which were not usually available on the NHS. To date, around 50,000 patients have received such treatments through the CDF.

John said,

"It was a pleasure to receive Linda's petition, and I would like to congratulate her on her bravery and achievement - organising 14,000 signatures is no mean feat. I will shortly be sending the petition into the Department of Health for their response."

"The CDF has been a great success, enabling around 50,000 cancer patients to access treatments they would not otherwise have received on the NHS. However, it was always a sticking-plaster, and we must find a long-term solution when the CDF expires in 2016 - cancer patients and their families deserve no less."

Job code: Halaven-UK0409

Date of preparation: March 2015