Television presenter Nadia Sawalha has spoken of her profound grief following the death of her close friend, Hannah Gardner, aged 39, after a long battle with incurable breast cancer. Their fight was doubly painful, as it coincided with a failed campaign to reverse a block on a pioneering drug that could have extended Hannah's life.
A Campaign Born of Desperation
The Loose Women star, 61, campaigned tirelessly alongside Hannah for the use of the targeted treatment Enhertu. In a bold and desperate move to raise awareness, Nadia joined 30 other women affected by the disease in a topless protest outside Parliament in July 2024. Their chests were painted with powerful messages like 'Our lives count' and 'Help us to live'.
The number of women, 31, represented the daily number of lives lost to metastatic breast cancer in the UK. Their goal was to be seen and heard by the new Labour government, breaking what they described as a 'deafening silence' from decision-makers.
The Cruel Postcode Lottery of Treatment
Enhertu, which costs approximately £8,000 per session, is available in Scotland and 14 other countries but is not currently approved for routine NHS use in England and Wales. It is only accessible privately. The drug is the first licensed targeted treatment for patients with a subtype of incurable breast cancer called HER2-low.
Clinical trials found Enhertu could boost the time cancer was held at bay from seven months to over two years, results hailed as 'mind-blowing'. It could have made around 1,000 patients a year eligible for the treatment instead of standard chemotherapy.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) stated the cost asked of the NHS was 'too high'. This decision was condemned by campaigners and the drug's manufacturers, who argued a flawed 'severity modifier' in NICE's assessment devalued the severity of diseases like metastatic breast cancer.
A Friend's Devastating Loss
Nadia announced Hannah's passing on Sunday, sharing a poignant photo of her friend. Hannah, a former clinical trial manager and mother to a five-year-old autistic daughter, was first diagnosed in 2013. The cancer returned twice before she received a stage four diagnosis in June 2022, with the disease spreading to her liver.
In an emotional interview months earlier, Nadia explained that Enhertu had the potential to give Hannah an extra six months of life. "For Hannah," she said, fighting back tears, "she wants to hear her child say just even one word... so that she knows she's gonna be all right." She described Hannah as a 'powerhouse' who advocated fiercely for herself and others.
After sharing Hannah's story, Nadia was inundated with offers from people in Scotland willing to let Hannah use their address to register for the drug there—a stark illustration of the postcode lottery.
The Department of Health and Social Care stated that an important part of the government's mission was patient access to innovative, cost-effective medicines and that they were awaiting NICE's final guidance. An NHS England spokesperson expressed deep disappointment that the drug companies had not offered the treatment at a price enabling approval.
Nadia's heartfelt tribute on social media read: "Our beautiful Hannah... Although we knew it was coming we are all so deeply shocked and distraught. No need to be brave anymore darling you can now rest in peace." The campaign for access to Enhertu for all who need it continues, now underscored by a deeply personal loss.
