What has NICE said?
Crizotinib (Xalkori) is recommended for adults with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive advanced non-small-cell lung cancer as a possible treatment when the cancer hasn't been treated before.
What does this mean for me?
If you have ALK-positive non-small-cell lung cancer, and your doctor thinks that crizotinib is the right treatment, you should be able to have it on the NHS.
Crizotinib should be available on the NHS within 3 months.
The condition and the treatment
Lung cancer is grouped into 2 main types depending on how it looks under the microscope: small-cell lung cancer and non-small-cell lung cancer. The cancer cells can be checked to see whether they are ALK-positive, that is, they have mutations (changes) to the ALK gene. Advanced cancer means that it has spread from where it started.
Crizotinib works by blocking ALK, slowing the growth of ALK-positive lung cancer cells.
NHS Choices may be a good place to find out more.
These organisations can give you advice and support:
-
British Lung Foundation, 0207 688 5555
-
Cancer Research UK, 0808 800 4040
-
Macmillan Cancer Support, 0808 808 0000
-
Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, 0333 323 7200
NICE is not responsible for the quality or accuracy of any information or advice provided by these organisations.