Responding to NICE's Final Appraisal Determination on Pemetrexed for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma, Cancerbackup issues the following statement:

"Today's decision by NICE to overturn its initial decision on Pemetrexed for mesothelioma, the asbestos-related cancer, is warmly welcomed by Cancerbackup", says Roisin Trehy, senior nurse at Cancerbackup.

"This decision means that the majority of people with mesothelioma will now be able to obtain Pemetrexed on the NHS. However, it is still disappointing that a minority will still miss out on the drug, particularly as there are few other treatments available for patients with this disease."

1. Cancerbackup is the only national charity that specialises in providing information on all types of cancer.

2. All Cancerbackup services are free to cancer patients, their relatives and friends.

3. Cancerbackup Freephone Information Service: 0808 800 1234 (Mon-Fri, 9am-8pm). Cancerbackup Centres can be found in St Bartholomew's Hospital, Charing Cross Hospital, the London Clinic, The Christie Hospital, Ipswich Hospital, Nottingham City Hospital, Coventry's University Hospital and Jersey. The charity's website can be found at http://www.cancerbackup.org.uk

4. Cancerbackup, as a charity, receives 54% of its funding from individuals, 11% from charitable trusts, 5% from grants, 14% from companies, 2% from investments and 14% from its trading company. Pharmaceutical companies contributed 9% of the total 2005/06 income.

5. In April 2006 Cancerbackup changed its name from CancerBACUP, so that the charity's name better represents the service the charity provides: information, understanding and support to anyone affected by cancer.

http://www.cancerbackup.org.uk