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Cancer man's Senedd NHS protest Cancer man's Senedd NHS protest
(about 4 hours later)
A man fighting for prostate cancer patients in Wales to be offered the same treatment available in England is taking his campaign to the assembly. A man fighting for prostate cancer patients in Wales to be offered the same treatment available in England has taken his campaign to the assembly.
David Powell, 54, from Barry, is helped by Jayne Sullivan, who campaigned for the breast cancer drug, Herceptin, to be made available on the NHS. David Powell, 54, from Barry, was helped by Jayne Sullivan, who lobbied for the breast cancer drug, Herceptin, to be made available on the NHS.
They will display a giant version of a letter from Health Commission Wales (HCW) outside the Senedd building. They displayed a giant version of a memo from Health Commission Wales (HCW) outside the Senedd debating chamber.
HCW said it cannot fund every treatment available and had to make choices.HCW said it cannot fund every treatment available and had to make choices.
It said brachytherapy, a treatment for prostrate cancer, was not within its budget, and there were other effective treatments available.It said brachytherapy, a treatment for prostrate cancer, was not within its budget, and there were other effective treatments available.
We have to make choices and we have to think about when we can make treatments available Simon Dean, Health Commission WalesWe have to make choices and we have to think about when we can make treatments available Simon Dean, Health Commission Wales
In August, HCW instructed consultants to stop offering the treatment, which is a form of radiation therapy.In August, HCW instructed consultants to stop offering the treatment, which is a form of radiation therapy.
It involves a radioactive seed being injected directly into the prostate. It takes just one visit to hospital compared to weeks of radiotherapy and does not carry the same risks as surgery. Brachytherapy involves a radioactive seed being injected directly into the prostate. It takes just one visit to hospital compared to weeks of radiotherapy and does not carry the same risks as surgery.
Mr Powell said his oncologist told him it would be the most effective form of treatment when he was diagnosed with prostrate cancer in January. Father-of-two Mr Powell said his oncologist told him it would be the most effective form of treatment when he was diagnosed with prostrate cancer in January.
But he said he was later told by HCW that his treatment would not be funded.But he said he was later told by HCW that his treatment would not be funded.
'Treatment option''Treatment option'
After a five-month battle, Mr Powell was given NHS brachytherapy treatment in Leeds. HCW then said six patients who were to have brachytherapy had since been authorised for treatment. Mr Powell was given NHS brachytherapy treatment in Leeds.
He is now campaigning for the treatment to be given to all men in Wales who are recommended it.He is now campaigning for the treatment to be given to all men in Wales who are recommended it.
He said: "I think it's absolutely disgusting that they're telling us because we're Welsh we can't have this treatment.He said: "I think it's absolutely disgusting that they're telling us because we're Welsh we can't have this treatment.
"We can't allow that to happen which is why we're taking this to the assembly.""We can't allow that to happen which is why we're taking this to the assembly."
Jayne Sullivan will take part in the protest outside the SeneddJayne Sullivan will take part in the protest outside the Senedd
He is being joined in his campaign by Jayne Sullivan, who campaigned for the breast cancer drug Herceptin to be made available on the NHS. He called on assembly members to question health minister Brian Gibbons on the issue.
They will be displaying in front of the Senedd building a giant version of a letter on the subject from the HCW. He was by Jayne Sullivan, who campaigned for the breast cancer drug Herceptin to be made available on the NHS.
Ms Sullivan said: "It reads quite clearly brachytherapy treatment should not be offered as an NHS treatment option for Welsh patients until further notice. Speaking about the HCW memo, Ms Sullivan said: "This correspondence shouldn't have been sent out. We want brachytherapy treatment re-commissioned for Welsh patients."
"This correspondence shouldn't have been sent out. We want brachytherapy treatment re-commissioned for Welsh patients."
But HCW chief executive Simon Dean said that resources would always be finite.But HCW chief executive Simon Dean said that resources would always be finite.
He said: "We all want all the possible things that could benefit us now, but we're not going to be able to keep pace with that speed of development.He said: "We all want all the possible things that could benefit us now, but we're not going to be able to keep pace with that speed of development.
"We have to make choices and we have to think about when we can make treatments available - it might not be today, it might be tomorrow - it might be next year."We have to make choices and we have to think about when we can make treatments available - it might not be today, it might be tomorrow - it might be next year.
"And we have to make those choices across the wide range of services that we are responsible for.""And we have to make those choices across the wide range of services that we are responsible for."
HCW has authorised treatment for six patients who were identified as suitable for brachytherapy when commissioning of the service was suspended earlier this year.