Daily ovarian cancer pill is ‘biggest breakthrough in 30 YEARS’ – and slows disease by up to a year - The Sun

THOUSANDS of women will benefit from the biggest breakthrough in ovarian cancer treatment in decades.

It will be given to women diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer to help prevent tumours regrowing after chemotherapy.

Annwen Jones, from charity Target Ovarian Cancer, said: “Today’s announcement is a major milestone in the fight against ovarian cancer, bringing hope during a pandemic where we have serious concerns about how many women are being diagnosed late.

Ovarian cancer may affect one or both of your ovaries, and there are several types that can affect women of all ages.

Prof Jonathan Ledermann, from University College London, said: “Today’s decision marks a turning point in advanced ovarian cancer treatment, allowing clinicians to use a key therapy at an earlier phase of treatment and in many more women than ever before.

“Maintenance therapy has already changed how we treat ovarian cancer and the decision to recommend niraparib is yet another important step forward on this journey.”.

Around 7,500 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the UK each year, with 4,100 dying from the disease.

Victoria Clare, from charity Ovacome, said: “Today’s news will bring deep relief to a great many women with advanced ovarian cancer, offering them the reassurance that they will be able to access the therapy that they need on the NHS.

She said: “I was diagnosed four years ago and started taking niraparib after the ovarian cancer spread to my brain.

Marc Clausse, from drugs firm GSK, said: “Maintenance therapy has become a mainstay of treatment in advanced ovarian cancer and making sure it is available as early as possible is key to keeping this debilitating cancer at bay for as long as possible.