A GRANDMOTHER who won a landmark battle forcing health chiefs to pay for a life extending cancer drug has died.
Jean Murphy, 62, took her fight to get a pioneering kidney cancer drug called Sutent on the NHS to the High Court, and her case helped force a change in the rules, which made the treatment widely available in England earlier this year.
An anonymous donor who read about the legal battle gave her the money to start treatment and she responded so well that Salford health bosses agreed to start paying for it last August – her health improved dramatically on the drug and it extended her life by almost a year.
But Mrs Murphy died of heart failure surrounded by her family last night after a short illness.
Her daughter Cathy, 37, said: “My mum was a fighter all her life. She hated injustice and she was never afraid to speak out against it.
“She was outraged when she was told she could not have the treatment she needed and every time she was told ‘no’ it made her more determined to fight.
“We are so glad she fought and won Sutent because it encouraged other people to fight too – and it dramatically improved her health, we believe we would have lost her months ago if she had not had it.”
Mrs Murphy died at St Anne’s Hospice where she had been cared for since last Friday.
Before she began treatment Mrs Murphy had become virtually housebound, was using a wheelchair, oxygen supply and stair-lift but within a few weeks of starting treatment she began shopping and socialising again.
Prof Robert Hawkins, her doctor at The Christie hospital said: “I will always remember Jean as a strong, warm and brave person. Her fight to get Sutent not only helped her but also helped others to get it as well. My thoughts are with Jean’s family and friends at this difficult time.”
From the M.E.N. archives
Cancer drug gran celebrating
Sutent battle cost more than drug
Cancer mum leads protest
Mystery donor to gran's rescue
Gran takes drug battle to court
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Showing comments 1 to 10 and replies | View All
Teesicha, Planet Earth. (20/05/2009 at 18:24)
manchester girl (20/05/2009 at 21:23)
Rose W, Cornwall - UK (20/05/2009 at 23:31)
Our fight was vindicated when N I C E and then Salford PCT had to accept that Sutent should be prescribed and paid for by the NHS for patients like Jean. But no-one at Salford PCT thought it would be a kindly or caring gesture to talk to Jean and her family and just say SORRY they had made a mistake. A mistake which Jeans family will live with for ever.
Even when an anonymous donor got in touch with us to offer Jean the money to that meant we could buy her first 6 months treatment, Jean & Cathy still offered help and support to other Kidney Cancer patients who were still having to fight to get Sutent.
Bless you Jean, you were one in a million, I feel a stronger person for having known you and your daughter Cathy.
Rose Woodward - www.kidneycancersupportnetwork.co.uk
Jay B, oldham (21/05/2009 at 09:58)
May Jean rest in peace now!
Maybe It's Me, Any Town (21/05/2009 at 10:29)
MCFCANDY, M41 (21/05/2009 at 12:02)
Bob Hope (21/05/2009 at 12:14)
JTC Formerley JimC (21/05/2009 at 12:38)
Lets just hope that Salford PCT can live with themselves now. The time she had left was used for fighting for what she and so many others believed was the right thing to do. But with Salford PCT it came down to money. I see what the PCT did was nothing more than forced euthanasia, but silly me i thought that was illegal. Not when it comes to funding it seems.
Disgraceful.
RT, UK (21/05/2009 at 16:40)
A perfect example of a Labour Controlled NHS, spending more money on administration and court cases. Then providing medical care and drugs.
Well done Jean - for fighting them and winning. Sorry you lost your final battle.
uss midway, Holstein Ostsee. (22/05/2009 at 06:57)