Wednesbury tumour patient is refused £50k drug

A patient from the Black Country has been refused a request for specialist medication for his brain tumour by health bosses - because they cannot justify the cost.

Keith Walker, aged 52, from Wednesbury, suffers from acromegaly, a tumour on his pituitary gland that will affect his internal organs, develop cancers and cause his bones to grow if left untreated.

Mr Walker from Queen Street, believes the Pegvisomant drug, believed to cost £50,000 for one course of treatment, will keep his condition under control.

Engineer Mr Walker, who lives with his partner Elaine Collins and her daughter Gemma, said: "I've spent the last 12 months going through the appeals process with the Primary Care Trust but I have been told I cannot have the medication.

"It's cutting my life span down at the end of the day.

"I've got two beautiful grandchildren I want to see them grow up. I've been told it will affect all my internal organs and will cause cancers."

Keith was first diagnosed at Wolverhampton's New Cross Hospital in October 2006 and had surgery around Christmas 2007.

A five-week course of radiotherapy, five days a week, followed but the condition has still caused Keith's hands to grow, as well as making his bottom jaw protrude.

"At the moment I have headaches a lot and I have to take a lot of medication. Every month I have to go the hospital for injections.

"It affects everything I do day to day. It's very stressful having to go through it. I'm still working at the moment, because I have to get paid and pay the mortgage but I can only work at half pace."

Health bosses however said the treatment did not fall with guidelines.

Jyoti Atri, Deputy Director of Public Health at Sandwell Primary Care Trust, said the drug exceeded the £30,000 threshold for one dosage.

"Pegvisomant is not approved or recommended by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence. As a result, any requests for funding for this treatment have to come through the PCT's Individual Funding Request Panel."

By Alex Homer