Woman fights for NHS cancer drug

A woman terminally ill with kidney cancer could now be given a drug which could prolong her life, after a High Court ruling. Sutent has not yet been approved by the government and is not automatically available on the NHS. The cost of the prescription for Jean Murphy, a 62-year-old grandmother from Salford, could run into tens of thousands pounds and she has twice been refused a drug by Salford Primary Care Trust The cost of the prescription for Jean Murphy, a 62-year-old grandmother from Salford, could run into tens of thousands pounds and she has twice been refused a drug by Salford Primary Care Trust. The trust has only prescribed the drug to a patient once before, though it is more widely available in neighbouring Cheshire. Mr Justice Burnett said the commissioning panel who looked at Mrs Murphy's application had failed... [read full story]