Nhs immunotherapy funding

I have stage 4 lung cancer which has been kept stable by maintenance immunotherapy. I have received this every 3 weeks for over 2 years with minimum side affects. I have scan every 3 months showing my tumour is stable and even shrunk by 5cm in my August scan. I was then told that I had reached the maximum funding that nhs would provide for immunotherapy and my treatment was stopped. I am absolutely devastated and feel totally disregarded being told I will still receive 3 monthly scans and telephone consultation but no treatment!!! I could accept my treatment ending if it was not working but am finding it very difficult to accept because of funding, is there any way I can fight thos and get extended funding?

  • You have a right to be devastated ,like you say if it wasn't working I could sort of understand that but even then surely they have to find you an alternative and not just say no more treatment ,that's inhumane .it also makes you wonder why they tried it in the first place if they weren't going to keep it going when it was working ,I'm no lover of the Government and they need to stop wasting money and put it where it is desperately needed ,into the NHS the place that everyone needs and relies on ,its ridiculous ,I sincerely hope you get funding to keep this treatment going that is clearly working x

  • Thank you for your reply, it is awful when people's lives are controlled by funding! I do hope you and your husband have a wonderful anniversary and you get your gold medal

  • I was interested to read this thread as I have just been offered immunotherapy.  Cancers that were stable in my lymph node and lung have had the cheek to metastasise to another part of my lung and my liver and so I have been offered the immunotherapy.  I am interested in it as it is so new.  Being in the liver shows that my growing fatigue is not due to Covid as my son had suggested.  So I have had words with my body for not suppressing the cancer and am hoping the immunotherapy will work on it.

  • Offline in reply to JGi

    I had very good results with immunotherapy,  it has kept my lung cancer stable for 2 years and has minimal side effects,  good luck with your treatment I hope it works as good for you 

  • Offline in reply to Kimkey

    Thanks for that Kimkey.