A question of geography

Although newer and more aggressive treatment options are available in the US, many UK professionals in the field consider that the provision in Great Britain is as good as that on offer in the States. Janine Drennan, from The Cancer Research Campaign, says: ‘We may not be quite as fast as America at passing new drugs, but if, after vigorous testing over a 10 year period, a drug is found to be beneficial, then it will be used in the UK. There is no way that a new treatment would be withheld if it was in the best interests of women.’

One way in which Britain and America are alike, however, is that both countries suffer from patchy health care. A lot has been made of the British postcode lottery but the same can be said of the States. Women in New York, for instance, may have up-to-date treatment, but in Idaho it may well be very different picture. In addition to this, millions of American women cannot afford health insurance and their health care is, at best, very basic.

Undoubtedly the difference between UK and US pre-and post-treatments is costing lives. And the NHS is certainly under-funded. But here in Britain we have one distinct advantage over the American health system – every woman in this country is promised comprehensive treatment regardless of her ability to pay.