As a son, a man, and a friend, I know the fear and pain of watching someone you love suffer from prostate cancer. My father had prostate cancer, and I, like every man, carry the risk of the same. We all know men with prostates. We must no longer accept the painful reality that these men we know may depart from us earlier than necessary due to budget constraints.

Our plea is for the government to intervene and grant approval for funding of the drug abiraterone to treat prostate cancer in England and Northern Ireland, just as it has been approved in Scotland and Wales for the past two years. The health minister's letter to Prostate Cancer UK reveals that the decision is about overall cost. But, how can we quantify human life in terms of money?

We must underscore the fact that abiraterone is a proven life-extending drug. According to Cancer Research UK, abiraterone can extend life by an average of 3.9 months in men with more advanced prostate cancer (Cancer Research UK, 2016). That might seem a little to some, but for cancer patients and their families, every additional moment is a blessing.

Implore our government to reconsider its decision and prioritize human life over financial considerations. Sign our petition today and join us in demanding that every man's life is worth more than a budgetary decision.