Jess Duggan, a 44-year-old mother with terminal breast cancer, has raised more than £50,000 through public donations to access the life-extending drug Enhertu privately. After her first infusion, she celebrated her daughter's 16th birthday and now hopes to see her son turn 13 in September.
Public support after Mirror appeal
Following an appeal in the Mirror for NHS funding, the public's response was overwhelming. “It’s been a really heartwarming thing to go through in really dark times. You see this incredible outpouring of humanity and generosity,” Duggan said. She described the donations as “mind-blowing” and noted that some anonymous donors gave as much as £12,000.
The money raised covers five doses of Enhertu, each costing around £10,000 including nursing and equipment. Duggan said, “It’s horrible asking people for money but I had just been given the awful news I had six weeks to live.”
Denied NHS funding despite public opinion
Enhertu is available on the NHS in Scotland and 26 other European countries, but not in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. A recent poll by Breast Cancer Now found that 82% of UK adults believe the drug should be funded. Helen Dickens, chief support officer at Breast Cancer Now, said, “It’s heartbreaking that Enhertu remains out of reach for people with incurable metastatic breast cancer like Jess, robbing them of the chance of precious extra time to live.”
Duggan’s cancer has spread to her brain and liver. She told her children she had only six weeks left, and they are “very angry they are being deprived of their mum because the drug is not an option on the NHS.”
Campaign for change
Duggan is urging new Health Secretary Yvette Cooper to pressure for NHS funding. The drug was previously rejected by NICE as too expensive. However, after the US-UK trade deal in December 2025, NICE now uses a higher cost-effectiveness threshold, and discussions have resumed.
A NICE spokesperson said: “Enhertu for Her-2 low metastatic breast cancer remains the only breast cancer treatment NICE has been unable to recommend for patients, in the last eight years. Given these new circumstances, discussions… have resumed to try to seek agreement on a commercial offer that would make Enhertu cost effective.”
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Our deepest sympathies go out to Jess Duggan and all those impacted by breast cancer. Decisions on approving treatments for NHS use are taken by the independent body NICE. As part of the US-UK trade arrangement, NICE is now using a new higher cost-effectiveness threshold, allowing discussions with manufacturers of Enhertu to resume.”
Uncertain future
Duggan’s prognosis remains uncertain. “The six week tightrope is still very threatening, as it really has got to bring me back from the brink and it's whether it is capable at this point,” she said. She worries about what happens after five cycles: “Do I just keep begging for money, do I sell my house? What kind of decisions do I have to make around the financial future of my family?”
