The James Whale Fund for Kidney Cancer has welcomed Asda’s decision to sell cancer drugs on a non-profit basis.

The move may benefit cancer patients who have been denied cancer treatment by the NHS and are forced to buy the drugs they need. However the majority of cancer patients simply cannot afford to buy their own drugs in this way. Once again we see that new and innovative cancer drugs will only be available to a few patients who are rich and can afford to buy their drugs or who have private health insurance.

Although the supermarket chain is slashing the cost of private cancer treatment, the annual cost of some life prolonging drugs for rare types of cancer is still far too high, preventing many kidney cancer patients from receiving vital treatment.

Broadcaster and Founder of The Fund, James Whale, commented, “We always welcome any price reductions in treatment costs although patients still find themselves in a position whereby they can’t just pop a year’s supply of cancer drugs in their trolley without having to remortgage their house.”

The Fund, however, are delighted that the new coalition Government has restated a Conservative manifesto pledge to make new and innovative cancer  treatments available to NHS patients with a £200 million fund to pay for cancer drugs.

Rose Woodward, a survivor of kidney cancer and Patient Advocate for the Fund said “On behalf of The James Whale Fund for Kidney Cancer and my fellow kidney cancer patients, we congratulate the Coalition Government on their promise to set up a Cancer Drugs Fund which will enable patients suffering from kidney cancer to get the cancer drugs they desperately need. My fellow kidney cancer patients are being denied cancer treatment even as we speak and we know the new Government will make access to proven and effective cancer drugs one of their top priorities".

About The Fund:

The James Whale Fund is the UK’s leading kidney cancer charity and was set up in 2006 by the broadcaster James Whale who lost a kidney to cancer in the year 2000. Today James continues to lead a full and busy life, as do the majority of people who are diagnosed and treated early. Every year almost 7000 people in the UK learn that they have kidney cancer; that’s over 16 people a day. And yet the condition – the eighth most common cancer among men – rarely attracts much public attention. Our mission at the James Whale Fund is to try and change that.

For more information about The James Whale Fund for Kidney Cancer please visit www.jameswhalefund.org or email Freddie Johnson at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 0845 225 1500.