What has NICE said?
Degarelix (Firmagon) is recommended as a possible treatment for advanced hormone-dependent prostate cancer in adults whose disease has spread to their spine.
If you have advanced hormone-dependent prostate cancer that has spread to your spine, and your doctor thinks that degarelix is the right treatment, you should be able to have it on the NHS.
Degarelix should be available on the NHS within 3 months.
If you are not eligible for treatment as described above, you should be able to continue taking degarelix until you and your doctor decide it is the right time to stop.
The condition and the treatment
When prostate cancer has spread to another part of the body, it is called advanced or metastatic prostate cancer.
The hormone testosterone can make the cancer cells grow faster, so drugs can be used to make the body produce less testosterone, slowing down the growth of the cancer cells.
Degarelix works by lowering the amount of testosterone released by the body.
NHS Choices may be a good place to find out more.
These organisations can give you advice and support:
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Macmillan Cancer Support, 0808 808 0000
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Cancer Research UK Patient Information (previously CancerHelp UK), 0808 800 4040
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Prostate Cancer UK, 0800 074 8383
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Tackle Prostate Cancer, 0800 035 5302
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PCaSO Prostate Cancer Support Organisation, 0800 035 5302
NICE is not responsible for the quality or accuracy of any information or advice provided by these organisations.