37 year old ex-soldier (please sign) petition Cancer treatment

[OKOC]

Can you please help by signing a petition to support Mark Bannister, an ex British soldier who has been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour (Glioblastoma).
Mark is 37yrs old and has been married to Karen for 10 years, they have 2 young children. Mark served for 10 years in the Army and completed several tours in Northern Ireland & Bosnia as part of the 1st Battalion Worcestershire & Sherwood Forrestors Regiment (now called the Mercian Regiment).
Since his diagnosis in 2003, Mark has battled so hard and his doctors in Sheffield have treated him for several brain tumours very successfully.

But now his Consultant Oncologist wants to prescribe Avastin, a cancer drug, for Mark. But his local Health Authority have refused him.

If he lived a few miles away in a neighbouring Health Authority he would ROUTINELY receive NHS funding for Avastin the cancer drug his doctor wants to prescribe for him.
Another classic case of the postcode lottery, made even more poignant by how very close Mark lives to the neighbouring Health Authority ( just 8 miles away).
Mark & Karen have set up a petition to campaign for his treatment, we would like as many people as possible to sign his petition and show support for Marks case.
Please click here to sign Mark's petition: Mark Bannister Petition (http://www.designcupboard.co.uk/mark/petition.php)

Many thanks

[airborne_artist]

I had prostate cancer over twenty years early (compared to the average age at diagnosis), which is why I've come into contact with the drugs decision making system.

Luckily mine was removed in one go by a surgeon and remains in the jar. I've since done a lot of unpaid work as a patient rep in the cancer treatment world. It's not as simple as the journalists make out, I'm afraid.

I feel truly sorry for the soldier, but as TS says, his treatment options choices should be made in the light of the experience of those whose daily job is treating people like him. It's not one for a telephone vote. If it was we'd be giving hope to people and their families where no hope of a cure or even a dignified extension of life should exist. A pain-free and side-effects free end of life may actually be a much better option for him.

Edit:

For some strange reason this post is out of sequence. It should be after post #10

[Herc-u-lease]

OKOC,

will sign as soon as i get home (damn firewall). I'm uncertain as to why Mark is not eligible for the Cancer Drugs Fund. This fund should not be a postcode lottery as it is nationwide funding, rather than local PCT.

Good luck Mark

[Hammer Head Too]

Done. Good luck to you Mark.

HH2

[SmilingKnifed]

Done. The Woofers are my local regiment, so I've also forwarded this via Facepest too.

[Jerry Can]

Done. They are my home regiment as well. Good luck Mark.

[airborne_artist]

He's not been able to access Avastin because someone (probably a committee/group in fact) has decided it's not suitable/cost-effective for him given the condition he is in.

I don't know his circumstances, but they have decided he's not likely to benefit sufficiently from the drug as much as others will benefit from other drugs costing the same.

I've had a small insight into the way these decisions are made and while it looks brutal it's the only way when there is a finite amount of cash.

A quick Google reveals:

"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the use of Avastin last month for the treatment of brain cancer. The powerful drug shrinks tumors by choking off their blood supply. However, about fifty percent of patients don’t respond to the therapy, exposing them to unnecessary side effects and medication costing up to $10,000 per month." (Avastin for Brain Tumors | MedNews (http://mednews.com/brain-tumors-avastin))

"Therapy for treating recurrent high-grade gliomas is palliative. All patients with these high-grade tumors eventually die of their cancer.

While treatment with Avastin does dramatically improve survival time, the time that patients have left is of better quality and less about living with the disease itself," Chamberlain said. In this study, the patients, ages 24-60, received an infusion of bevacizumab every two weeks for an average of 14.5 cycles (range was two to 39 cycles). Fourteen (64 percent) patients showed a partial response to the medicine as shown on radiographic scans. Two patients had stable disease and six had progressive disease. Progression-free survival ranged from three to 18 months and survival for the entire group of patients was three to 19 months" (Avastin Effective At Delaying Brain Tumor Progression In Recurrent Disease (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090406151551.htm))

Opinions on drug impact will always vary. It's not an exact science.

There is no cure for his condition.

[NutLoose]

But if there is the slightest chance you would want it AA....Signed

[Trim Stab]

Good luck to him, but I would rather leave the decision on whether or not he is given the drugs to the professional judgement of the medical staff in charge of him. It would be morally wrong if online popularity contests were allowed to influence the allocation of medical resources.

[sidewayspeak]

Good luck to him, but I would rather leave the decision on whether or not he is given the drugs to the professional judgement of the medical staff in charge of him. It would be morally wrong if online popularity contests were allowed to influence the allocation of medical resources.

Wow, generosity simply oozes from your post. I wonder if you would be so clinical and politically correct if it were one of your children.

[Winco]

Trim Stab

Thats the problem however...
The medics want to give him the drug, but the bloody pen-pushing, faceless accountants say NO!

Can't sign just yet but will do when RTB in UK

Best of luck Mark - hang in there mate

Winco

[fill_n_d]

Mark, I have just signed your petition. I sincerely hope you get what you want even if medical advice is uncertain about the benefits of Avastin for you, if I was in a similar position I would want to give anything a try.

All the best

Phil

[Halton Brat]

Done.

We are talking about a fellow human being here, & former comrade-in-arms.

10kUSD/month treatment cost? How much does NHS blow per year on Underwater Tap-Dancing Consultants etc?

Hang in there Mark, fight it boy.

HB

[kokpit]

Done, let's hope we can make a difference.

Kev.

[Bigears]

Signed. As a civvy, I don't think that this country does enough for our current or ex Forces people.

[Checks Complete]

Really sorry to hear about Mark's problem. Has anybody contacted SSAFA Forces Help or Help for Heroes on Mark's behalf, they may be able to help with some funding or be able put pressure on the PCT.