One-minute cancer injection speeds up treatment for 14,000 patients

Health & Fitness
4 May 2026 • 4:33 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

One-minute cancer injection speeds up treatment for 14,000 patients

  • The NHS is rolling out a one-minute immunotherapy injection for over a dozen types of cancer, including lung, breast, and cervical cancer.
  • This new injectable form of pembrolizumab (Keytruda) can reduce treatment time by up to 90 per cent compared to the previous intravenous drip method.
  • Approximately 14,000 patients in England who start pembrolizumab therapy each year are expected to transition to the quicker jab.
  • The innovation aims to free up significant NHS staff time, allowing more patients to be treated and potentially reducing waiting times.
  • Patients, such as 89-year-old Shirley Xerxes who has bowel cancer, have already benefited from the new treatment, praising its convenience and speed.

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