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A “life-changing” cancer drug was rolled out on the NHS 20 years ago thanks to money raised by Bright Sun readers.

In April, Medicaid approved the chemotherapy drug olaparib for breast and prostate cancer patients with certain gene mutations.

Joanna Kelly says new cancer-fighting drug olaparib has extended her life and thanks Sun readers.

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Joanna Kelly says new cancer-fighting drug olaparib has extended her life and thanks Sun readers.Credit: Lewis Wood
Claire Sprague says olaparib has given her a chance to see her children grow into adults.

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Claire Sprague says olaparib has given her a chance to see her children grow into adults.Credit: Andy Kelvin / Kelvinmedia
The King expressed his support for the campaign when he was still the Prince of Wales

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The King expressed his support for the campaign when he was still the Prince of WalesCredit: Getty

Scientists in the year After £650,000 of research funded by this newspaper in 2001, they found it reduced the risk of developing tumors again.

In September 2000, our “Grow a Ton with the Sun” campaign was launched with the support of King Charles, Ronan Keating, Denise Van Outen, Sir Ranulph Fiennes and other celebrities.

Hundreds of readers and your friends and family have raised money and donated to the Breast Cancer Now charity to support the first trials of olaparib.

The drug now changes the lives of 800 more cancer patients each year, buying them precious extra time with their loved ones.

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Dr Simon Vincent, director of research at Breast Cancer Now, said: “Finding new ways to treat cancer will take many years of work.

“Such developments are only possible thanks to the generosity of our supporters, including Sun readers who supported this research in the first place.

“We are incredibly grateful.”

The drug works by turning off PARP proteins – cancer cells stop healing themselves – and causes them to die.

It is important for people with BRCA gene mutations – known as the “Jolie gene” according to the actress Angelina Jolie – because of their natural vulnerability to cancer.

After years of research and battling NHS red tape, olaparib is now being used to transform the lives of cancer patients including Joanna Kelly and Claire Sprague.

Sustainability consultant Joanna, 44, mother of two, from Croydon, was diagnosed with breast cancer less than two weeks before giving birth to her second child in 2020.

She took olaparib for a year in 2021 and 2022 to help keep it from growing back after surgery, chemo and radiotherapy.

Ronan Keating has expressed his support for 'Raise Your Ton with the Sun'.

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Ronan Keating has expressed his support for ‘Raise Your Ton with the Sun’.Credit: Getty
Other celebrities like Telly Denise Van Outen

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Other celebrities like Telly Denise Van OutenCredit: Getty

Jo told The Sun: “I noticed a lump on my breast and said I was pregnant, but I got the test.

“I was diagnosed right then and there, and my husband had to come and drive me home while I was crying and shaking.”

After her son Henry was born safely, a year of grueling treatment followed.

One of Joe’s doctors is Professor Andrew Tutt – a senior cancer researcher involved in the early trials of olaparib.

She said: “I think this could halve my risk of cancer and I wanted to do anything to prolong my life.

“If I ever get cancer again in the future, I want to tell my kids that I did everything I could to reduce that risk.

“In hindsight it was a no-brainer and I’m 100 percent happy with my decision.

“I’m so grateful for the work Breast Cancer is doing now and for everyone who has raised £650,000 for The Sun. Without them, it wouldn’t have happened.”

Our campaign urged readers to donate £100 each – a “ton” – to find a cure for breast cancer.

Donations have been generously matched by the Southern Trust totaling £500,000.

Hundreds of people donated cash and together we raised £650,000 for what was now called Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

The list of celebrity supporters was long, including TV and music stars such as Ian Wright, Isla Fisher, Lorraine Kelly, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Liz Hurley, Lisa Riley, Baby Spice’s Emma Bunton and model Caprice.

Arsenal legend Ian Wright also supported the campaign

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Arsenal legend Ian Wright also supported the campaignCredit: Sportsfile
Sir Ralph Fiennes has given his support to our fundraising bid

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Sir Ralph Fiennes has given his support to our fundraising bidCredit: Getty

King Charles, then Prince of Wales, was a supporter of the charity and threw his weight behind our fundraising bid.

Writing in The Sun on November 9, 2001, after the donation, he said: “I have been impressed by the energy and commitment of individual fundraisers across the country.

“Sun readers have been at the forefront of this effort.

“Thousands supported the ‘Grow a Ton in Solar’ fundraising appeal and helped raise £650,000, which was a fantastic success.”

Olaparib has already been used as a cancer treatment, but studies we’ve helped fund show doctors can use it more effectively.

Laboratory tests have shown that tumor cells in women with BRCA gene mutations are about 1,000 times more sensitive to olaparib than normal.

The drug can be targeted in a way that minimizes damage to surrounding tissues and minimizes side effects.

Trials of this method of attack began in 2001 on female patients and explained how olaparib can help these women, whose risk of cancer is much higher than average.

Only one in 400 people – 0.25 percent – will inherit the faulty BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, but a shocking 70 percent of women will develop breast cancer.

Meanwhile, one in ten men with the gene mutation will develop breast cancer, and they are also more likely to develop prostate cancer.

After years of research, scientists have found that olaparib can reduce the risk of cancer returning in these patients after their standard treatment.

Its effectiveness varies depending on the type of cancer, but it can increase survival by a third.

Scientists have confirmed that the drug olaparib reduces the risk of cancer returning in patients after their standard treatment.

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Scientists have confirmed that the drug olaparib reduces the risk of cancer returning in patients after their standard treatment.Credit: Provided

Medicines watchdog the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence rejected the drug last year for NHS use over concerns about its cost.

But a campaign of pressure from cancer charities and a cheaper deal reached by NHS England and AstraZeneca got the green light in April.

The Institute of Cancer Research in London said at the time that the approval would be “life-changing” for patients.

Professor Tutt, Director of the Toby Robbins Research Center at ICR Breast Cancer Now, said: “Olaparib is a game-changing drug for patients with this type of hereditary breast cancer.

“The breakthrough is underpinned by over 25 years of research at the ICR and it is incredibly rewarding to see decades of work lead to new treatments for patients.

“In 2005, we made a key discovery – showing that PARP inhibitors can selectively kill cancer cells with errors in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes.

“This was crucial and we are very grateful to Breast Cancer Now and Sun readers who helped fund the research.”

Claire Sprague, 46, from Cheshire, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021 and took olaparib from that December following her first treatment.

Bank worker Claire, a mother of two, had no symptoms and was diagnosed with a fast-growing tumor by chance during a routine mammogram.

After chemotherapy and surgery, she was given olaparib by her doctor.

Claire said: “I was devastated when the cancer came back.

“My oncologist says triple-negative cancers like mine have a high recurrence rate, but there’s an amazing new tablet.

“It wasn’t on the NHS so we were both over the moon when my application was approved.

“There were side effects like fatigue and loss of appetite, but it gives me the opportunity to see my children grow into adults, so you go with it.

“I know I did everything I could to give me a chance to grow up together.

“Over the years, my sister and I have done the Run for Life a few times because of family members – my grandmother died of breast cancer at age 44.

“It’s amazing that the money raised goes towards research to help people like me and other people with cancer.”

Cancer Research UK and Prostate Cancer UK also helped fund trials of new uses for olaparib, which was first used as an ovarian cancer drug.

Chiara De Biase, from Prostate Cancer UK, said: “It is only through the power of funding research that we can stop prostate cancer cutting men’s lives.”

Dr Samuel Godfrey, research expert at CRUK, said: “Scientists and doctors have contributed half of the world’s essential cancer drugs, supported by charitable donations.

Treatments like olaparib offer new hope to many people suffering from cancer, but it is vital that we invest in research to find new treatments for those who need them.

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NHS England Cancer Director Professor Peter Johnson added: “The recent approval of olaparib to treat advanced breast cancer and advanced prostate cancer is an excellent example of the NHS making the best medicine available to patients at affordable prices. Tax payers.

“The milestone, which comes in the 75th year of the NHS, reminds us of the important role that charities such as Breast Cancer Now and Cancer Research UK, and campaigns such as The Sun’s, have played and continue to play in raising awareness and funding in the past. Doing research on the best treatment.

Claire says that taking olaparib makes her feel like she has done everything possible to prolong her life.

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Claire says that taking olaparib makes her feel like she has done everything possible to prolong her life.Credit: Andy Kelvin / Kelvinmedia
In 2000, our 'Grow a ton with the sun' campaign was launched with great support

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In 2000, our ‘Grow a ton with the sun’ campaign was launched with great supportCredit: Provided



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