Metastactic Breast Cancer (MBC) or secondary breast cancer (SBC) is when cancer has travelled from the primary site through the blood or lymphatic system to a distant area of the body. When this happens it is now stage 4 and incurable. Amongst those diagnosed with early stage breast cancer, 30% will go onto to develop MBC. Woman are mainly effected but men can also be diagnosed. The most common sites are Lungs, Liver, Bones and Brain, however it can also spread to other areas. 31 women DIE A DAY in the UK from MBC *******************************, these stars represent 31 women that will have died today, that could be YOUR mum, YOUR sister, YOUR aunt, YOUR daughter or YOUR wife!

Currently NICE guidance, NHS England and the Drug companies that manufacture life prolonging cancer treatments have clear and set guidance and criteria on when you can access these life prolonging cancer treatments, these guidelines are not indiviualised to the women needing these treatments and things need to change!!

My name is Annemarie and im 38 years old, i am a mum, a wife, a daughter, a sister, a friend, an NHS nurse and Health visitor. I am a person like all of you with thoughts and feelings, i am very stubborn, i swear far too much but i have a good heart, i have too many tattoos, and i like cheese and onion crisp sandwiches. Photography and art make me happy. I am like many of you or like someone you know.

For the last 16 months i have been living with MBC which has spread to my bones and my Brain. My brain has been the main issues and the last 16 months has seen me have brain surgery, and four lots of gamma knife radiotherapy to treat brain tumors which keep 'popping up' it has been a constant battle since October to treat the new tumors that keep appearing. I appear to be a complicated 'case' as i now have a tumor that is entwined within the auditory and facial nerve which if treated with Gamma Knife will kill the tumor but also kill my hearing (im already partially deaf) and will cause facial paralysis. Due to this awkward position my options are VERY limited, they are now whole brain radiotherapy or skull based radiotherapy.

There are many side effects from whole brain radiotherapy and as far as i know it is mainly used to treat many tumors and not just one like i have (although i appreciate the awkward position of this new one). It is a once in a life time treatment and is generally a last resort treatment.

There are medications that have been proven to cross the blood brain barrier and there are lots of women in the UK and beyond that have benefitted massively from these treatments (Tucatanib and enhertu) being the main ones, adding years onto their life. HOWEVER, there is a criteria which is set by NICE that say in the UK you can only access these treatments as second or third line and only if you have progression in your body. 

Currently as my body (bones) are stable on first line treatment this makes me ineligible to access second or third line treatment to treat my brain, which is NOT stable. But because they treat the body and brain separately, which to me is absolutely crazy because my brain IS part of my body i have been told i do not meet the criteria to change treatments which could potentially give me more precious time with my family. I dont tick that box! And you almost get to the point of wishing to have cancer progression in your body so you can be in with a chance to gain access to treatments that could stabilise my brain. It's just unthinkable....

My oncology team have contacted NHS England for South Yorkshire and also the drug company for tucatanib who have both said no, the reason given was because my body is stable which means i dont meet the criteria :(. My only options now are whole brain or skull based radiotherapy.

When i went to university, the first thing we were taught was about indiviualised patient care, there is NOTHING indivualised about cancer treatment in the UK, it needs to change! The criteria and access to these life prolonging treatments has to change, the thinking about treating brain and body separately has to change. NICE, NHS England the drug companies should be seeing us as people, people who want to live and thrive. STOP putting pound signs above our heads! I want to be around as long as possible to see my teenage boy go to his prom, to see my daughter pass her driving test and go to university, im too scared to think any further in to the future, but with the change in systemic treatment i could be around to see my grand kids.

I've set this petition up as i intend on appealing the decision, i need as much support and backing from everyone, we need to have our voices and stories heard. I want this to change for everyone, not just me. PLEASE sign this petition and show these companies that we are people, individual human beings who deserve individual treatment plans.