A breast cancer treatment that could extend the lives of dozens of Scots every year has been approved by the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC).

In what has been described as “great news” by a patients’ group, Tucatinib is to be accepted for use within NHS Scotland for those patients with an advanced and aggressive type of breast cancer.

The HER2-positive cancer generally grows and spreads much faster than others, accounting for around one fifth of the 4,700 annual breast cancer cases diagnosed each year.

The new drug is the first licensed in the UK to extend overall survival among patients who have already had two rounds of targeted treatments. It is also hoped the drug will reduce the need for radiotherapy or surgery among patients whose cancer has spread to the brain.

Potential 'game-changing' breast cancer drug approved in Scotland