Ashbourne cancer dad's drug wish is granted

The Ashbourne father who last week made a desperate plea for the life-saving cancer drug Ipilimumab (Ipy) had his wish granted when Taoiseach Enda Kenny announced last Thursday that the drug would be made available to cancer patients here. Martin McMahon (44), from St John's Wood in the town, is suffering from advanced malignant melanoma and believes the revolutionary new drug is his only hope to save his life. However, the drug has not been available here as it had not been licensed though it is available in the United States. He made an emotional appeal last week for the drug to be made available here and his family had been launching a fundraising campaign to finance his treatment with Ipy. However, on Thursday, it was announced that Ipy will be made available to patients who have a very aggressive form of malignant melanoma. The HSE has reached agreement with the drug's manufacturers, Bristol-Myers Squibb, following negotiations going back as far as November. Mr McMahon said this week it was great news and a compassionate, Christian thing to do. "It has been a rollercoaster week, but it was a victory for common sense," he added. He has no idea yet when his treatment will begin and said he will discuss that shortly with his oncologist. "It is on the table now, which is great," he said. • See full story in this week's Meath Chronicle.