Giles Turner not only covered his own costs for abiraterone but also worked to get it approved in England.
A new medicine that helps men live longer with prostate cancer will reach many across England soon—weeks away now. Pushed forward by one man’s fight alongside a health group, access has become a reality.
Since 2023, abiraterone is available on the NHS in Scotland and Wales. However, in England and Northern Ireland, people can only get it when their conditions are very severe.
Folks in the UK who have aggressive prostate cancer that has spread beyond the original site are already getting this medication.
Starting today, the NHS in England will offer that medicine. It is for people at serious risk when their illness hasn’t spread. This could help many avoid death.
Fewer men will lose their lives, thanks to this call, says Amy Rylance. She leads health progress work at Prostate Cancer UK. Her take? A huge step forward. Lives are on the line—now some will make it.
A few years back, the BBC started showing what was happening. Their reports stayed focused, never letting things fade. One person noticed—she said it mattered that they kept going.
Around 7,000 males each year are expected to begin therapy, according to the group. That could mean about 1,470 won’t face hearing their illness advance.
Around 560 lives could have a second chance, said the group.
The medication will be available in weeks. NHS England reports that about two thousand men recently diagnosed with prostate cancer may receive it. This is if doctors see clear health benefits.
From hunger comes halt – abiraterone cuts off the fuel that feeds tumor growth. A slowdown begins when supply lines break, leaving cells without what they need.
Fresh off a routine checkup, Giles Turner of Brighton got news he wasn’t expecting: prostate cancer, fast-moving, in early 2023.
Later that year, he contacted BBC News. He learned that people in Scotland and Wales could get abiraterone through the NHS, but those in England could not.
“I was shocked and angry that my postcode stopped me from getting free access to a treatment. This treatment could cut my risk of dying in half and give me the best chance for a cure,” he told the BBC.
That medicine costs £250 each month, so he covers the cost himself.
That moment, he said he was lucky enough to cover the cost, yet he was angry about those left struggling. Still, his words carried weight beyond just money.
Fresh off the starting block, Mr. Turner pushed for new rules. His move sparked quiet murmurs across the hall. Not everyone agreed, yet voices started to shift. A ripple grew where silence once sat. Change edged forward, step by uneven step.
Back then, NHS England mentioned looking into whether more men could benefit from the medication.
Officials said next came no money set aside for Prostate Cancer UK. Ministers stated the same thing again at the start of 2025.
“Today’s wonderful news is the culmination of all our determined and dogged efforts,” said Mr Turner.
“I’m really happy that men like me can now get fair access to the best treatment. Many lives will be saved, and families will be spared from heartbreak.”
Frustration showed when he said it took almost three years after he first brought up the matter.
Stopping prostate cancer from moving further is possible with abiraterone tablets.
In 2022, a study called STAMPEDE supported Prostate Cancer UK’s claim that this medication may help people live longer. Though not guaranteed, the data suggested a meaningful shift. What stood out was how treatment timing played a role. Instead of waiting, starting early showed promise. The organization pointed to survival trends seen across hundreds of patients. While every case differs, patterns emerged worth noting. Medical teams observed slower progression in some men. This wasn’t about curing everyone. It focused on extending time—with better quality. Numbers alone didn’t tell the whole story. Real experiences shaped the message too. Still, questions remain about who benefits most.
Folks noticed a better chance of lasting longer when males got that medicine along with standard treatment.
A study from the Institute of Cancer Research found that taking abiraterone for 24 months cut the chance of prostate cancer returning by 50%. Death risk dropped forty percent during that time. One finding followed another as data unfolded slowly.
Frustration grew among researchers when NICE held back approval for the medicine in fresh cases. The green light never came, leaving those involved uneasy about stalled progress.
Still, getting NICE or the MHRA to widen a medicine’s use means long paperwork filled with specifics. Though approval is possible, it takes effort that slows everything down. Only after a thorough review might the rules change regarding how drugs are allowed to be used.
When October 2022 arrived, abiraterone was no longer under patent. That shift meant the company that first developed it lost its sole right to produce and distribute the drug.
When it turned into a common medication, allowing multiple firms to offer it, interest in expanding its approved use faded quickly. The profit motive lost steam once exclusivity ended.
Finding room in current rules, officials in Wales and Scottish health leaders began delivering the medicine through NHS channels.
Yet England saw nothing like it.
Funding the wider rollout became doable, NHS England noted, since cash usually spent elsewhere had added up.
Starting now, a new NHS therapy offers hope to many. Weeks away from rollout, it could change outcomes dramatically. Professor Peter Johnson, leading cancer efforts nationally, sees a real impact ahead. Men facing illness might soon hear uplifting updates about their future. This approach adds months, maybe years, to lives once thought limited. Health gains are becoming possible where few existed before.
The NHS will keep working to provide the best treatments. Over the past five years, several new prostate cancer drugs have been introduced.
Every single moment counts when prostate cancer is part of life, says Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting. Time spent beside family becomes more precious than ever under those conditions.
“I’m thrilled that the NHS has made abiraterone available. This means thousands of men can access a treatment that boosts survival rates and offers valuable extra years of life.”
When hearing the news, Prof. Gert Attorn from the UC Cancer Institute, one of the leads on the STAMPEDE trial, shared his thoughts. It’s a big step forward for those affected by the disease. His team found strong proof that giving abiraterone sooner helps stop prostate cancer from moving through the body. For many men facing higher risks, this could make a real difference.
“Funding for this disease is already in Scotland and Wales. So, we’re glad NHS England has recognized this evidence. They will now make this effective treatment available routinely.”
Working to prompt swift action, Prostate Cancer UK talks with leaders in Northern Ireland. Their goal: keep pace without delay.
A letter heads to Northern Ireland’s leaders, nudging Stormont’s government forward. This push comes straight from the charity, aiming to spark movement through mailed words. Officials there will find notes urging action, sent quietly but with purpose. Pressure builds not by shouting, but by steady paper trails landing on desks.
So far, Stormont hasn’t said anything about adjusting the way abiraterone gets handed out. What happens next stays unclear for now.