HALTON MP Derek Twigg has urged a pharmaceutical giant to provide a vital life-extending cancer drug for free.

Mr Twigg pledged his backing to Breast Cancer Now’s #TimeForTrodelvy petition, calling on drug firm Gilead to provide its drug Trodelvy for free until it is made routinely available on the NHS.

The MP is an ambassador for Breast Cancer Now, and revealed that according to figures he had received from the charity, 112 people a year in the borough developed the condition – a rate of 173.5 compared to the England average of 168.4. Figures revealed that 22 people sadly died each year from the disease in the borough.

Mr Twigg recently attended the opening of two new treatment centres at Halton Hospital, including a Breast Care Centre at the Sir Tom Moore Building, which includes two new mammography rooms, two ultrasound clinic rooms, consultation and counselling rooms.

Writing on his Facebook page, he said: “Trodelvy is an exciting new drug that could give certain women living with incurable triple negative secondary breast cancer the hope of more time.

“More time to enjoy with loved ones and to do things that matter most to them.”

Mr Twigg also welcomed news that the Targeted Lung Health Checks programme would be arriving in Halton from December, with residents aged between 55 and 75 who have ever smoked being invited for a free lung check with a nurse, with mobile CT scanners located at Asdas in Runcorn and Widnes.

He added: “I really hope that all Halton people that are offered the opportunity, takes up the offer of a Lung Health Check.”