James Moorhouse
Usually, the term Trojan horse is associated with deception and lies, but in this case, it's potentially life-changing news for anyone suffering from a common form of cancer.
Cancer is a horrible disease that affects people across the world on a daily basis and often, by the time harmful or hidden symptoms present themselves, it becomes extremely difficult to treat.
While we have made significant advances in medical technology in recent years, with chemotherapy and immunotherapy sometimes enough to kill off the cancerous cells, professionals are constantly working on new ways to beat cancer.
And now, thousands of patients in England who are suffering from blood cancer will become the first in the world to be offered a pioneering 'Trojan horse' drug.
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Blood cancer is the fifth largest form of cancer in the UK when illnesses such as Leukemia, Myeloma and Lymphoma are taken into account, with over 40,000 diagnosed in the UK each year according to Blood Cancer.
For those of you who aren't aware, in Greek mythology, the Greeks gifted a giant wooden horse to the people of Troy, describing it as a gift to mark the end of a 10-year war, but in reality, Greek soldiers were hidden inside the horse and snuck out after a night of partying to slaughter soldiers within the city and winning the war.
And it seems as if belantamab mafodotin is just as brutally effective, as it will work by sneaking inside the cancer cells and destroying them from within.
Professor Peter Johnson, NHS England’s national clinical director for cancer, said the drug would be life-changing for patients and their families.
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“Myeloma is an aggressive type of blood cancer, but we have seen a steady improvement in the outlook for patients over recent years as we have introduced new targeted therapies,” he said.
“I am delighted that patients in England will be the first to benefit from this new treatment, which has the potential to keep cancer at bay for years longer, giving people the chance of more precious time with friends and family.”
Health officials have confirmed that the treatment will first be offered to certain patients who either have seen their cancer symptoms worsen, or haven't responded when provided to another form of treatment.
Shelagh McKinlay, the director of research and advocacy at the blood cancer charity Myeloma UK, said: “We have been working very hard for the last year to get this treatment approved and we know it will transform the lives of thousands of people with myeloma."
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Health minister Karin Smyth added: “This groundbreaking therapy puts the NHS at the forefront of cancer innovation. By harnessing cutting-edge ‘Trojan horse’ technology, we’re offering new hope to blood cancer patients across the country.”
Meanwhile, an extremely rare form of cancer where symptoms are often confused with a common illness is on the rise in the UK.