Cancer drug gives family hope

THE Northside family of a woman who is terminally ill
hope that an anti-cancer drug, provided by Beaumont Hospital at a cost of

?¬80,000
per course, will allow her to be there for the birth of her fifth grandchild
next summer.

The Hayden family, from Blanchardstown, have had more
than their share of ups and downs since mother-of-four Angela Hayden was
diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma last year.

She received chemotherapy and went into remission for
a few short months, but was rediagnosed in March of this year.

All treatments that her doctors have tried since then
in an effort to beat the vicious cancer have so far failed.

However, the Hayden family is more hopeful for the
future now that Angela is undergoing treatment with the high-tech Brentuximab
drug.

It was touch and go whether Angela would be given the
drug but word finally came through last week, much to family’s relief.

The news came just two days after Angela’s son
announced that he and his partner are expecting their first child in June of
next year.

Angela’s family are pinning their hopes on the drug
potentially extending the life of the 50-year-old mum who lives in Sheepmore
Way, Dublin 15.

There is a 70 per cent success rate with the drug,
which is the first major medical development devised to treat Hodgkin’s
Lymphoma in 35 years.

Beaumont Hospital has imported the drug from America
as it is not yet licensed in Ireland.

“It was absolutely fantastic to hear that Beaumont
allowed for the drug to be used,

? Angela’s eldest daughter Teresa told
Northside People.

“Waiting for the news was the hardest thing.

“We know this isn’t a miracle cure but it will
hopefully give my mother a few years extra that she wouldn’t otherwise have.

“Right now the memories that her grandchildren have
are of her being sick so we hope that they will have some happier ones now that
the she’s getting this treatment.

?

Teresa (28) explained how her mother’s last birthday
wish was to make it to her next birthday.

“My mother’s trying not to get her hopes up but it’s
hard not to,

? Teresa told Northside People.

Angela spent her birthday last year in hospital where
she had been confined for a period of three months.

“It was awful; we couldn’t have a cake or candles for
her because of the health risk,

? Teresa recalled.

“My mam was getting very, very down. She couldn’t do
anything. She tried knitting but the wool cut her skin which had become so
thin.

“She couldn’t read because she had

‘Chemo brain’ and
couldn’t concentrate on anything for very long.

?

The Hayden family are now looking forward to a
brighter Christmas in the knowledge that something is being done to prolong
Angela’s life.

Tests in January will determine if the drug is having
an effect and whether the treatment will continue.

It is understood that there are in the region of six
other patients in Ireland who could benefit from this particular drug.

In a statement, Beaumont Hospital said that while its
policy is not to discuss the cases of individual patients, it could confirm
that the Brentuximab drug has been authorised in the treatment of certain
illnesses.

“[The drug] is not currently licensed in Ireland and
can only be used with special authorisation from the Irish Medicines Board,

? a
spokesperson stated.

“To the best of our knowledge, this drug has only been
used twice before in Ireland, on compassionate grounds. It has never been used
before in Beaumont Hospital.

?