What has NICE said?
Crizotinib (Xalkori) is recommended for adults with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive advanced non-small-cell lung as a possible treatment when the cancer has been treated before.
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.
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, have mutations (changes) to the ALK gene. These changes cause the cancer cells to produce too much ALK, which stimulates their growth.
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:
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British Lung Foundation, 0300 003 0555
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Cancer Research UK Patient Information (previously CancerHelp UK), 0808 800 4040
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Macmillan Cancer Support, 0808 808 0000
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Roy Castle Lung Foundation, 0333 323 7200
NICE is not responsible for the quality or accuracy of any information or advice provided by these organisations.