Last updated 14:54, Thursday, 21 August 2008

CANCER sufferer Michael Kennett has been denied a life-saving drug because it is not cost effective.

Prolong his life: Michael Kennett from Whitehaven with his grandaughter Megan. Michael has battled bowel cancer for seven years but is being denied a lifesaving drug by the NHS, because the treatment is not “cost effective”

By Gillian Ellison

Mr Kennett, of Springfield Avenue, Whitehaven, has bravely battled cancer for the past seven years.

After years of chemotherapy, the 65-year-old has been told it will no longer be effective and he should try the drug Avastin.

But this chance to potentially prolong his life has been rejected by the NHS because it would not be “the best use of resources.”

“They are playing God with dad’s life, it’s like putting a nail in someone’s coffin,” said Michael’s daughter, Leanne Graham.

Now Michael and his wife Violet, face the dilemma of how they can afford to pay for the drug, which costs between £20,000 and £40,000 for an 18-month course,

“They have dangled the carrot in front of him and now taken it away. It’s very hard to stay upbeat and positive to get through this illness without the added pressure of possible financial problems. But we will not give up without a fight,” said Leanne, of Threaplands, Cleator Moor.

Avastin can slow down tumours’ growth by blocking their “food supply”.

But it is not recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) for certain cancers.

NICE says the drug does improve survival in advanced bowel cancer, but concludes it is “not cost-effective” and did not represent “the best use of NHS resources”.

Requests for drugs not approved by NICE are considered by the relevant primary care trust.

Most fund treatment only in exceptional circumstances.

Michael’s request went before the commissioning panel for Cumbria’s PCT but was turned down despite supportive letters from hospital consultant Dr Nichol, Dr Michael Sydney and Copeland MP Jamie Reed.

Some people have fought the NHS and won, allowing them to receive the drug, which is available in many parts of Europe.

They are to appeal against the decision and there is hope Bowel Cancer UK will take on the case.

Leanne said: “What is the point of all this wonderful research, which is mainly financed by devoted fundraisers in the UK, if the life-saving medication that is discovered is beyond the ordinary working person’s resources?”

Michael was diagnosed with bowel cancer and had an operation in 2001. Four years ago he had a 12-hour operation to remove 60 per cent of his liver and his gall bladder after the cancer spread. But the family was dealt a bitter blow six months later when the cancer was found in his lungs and returned to his liver.

“How can you put life against cost?” said Michael, who worked as a British Steel fitter and for 19 years at the Optilon zip factory in Cleator Moor.

Leanne said: “No matter what we have to do, he has to have that treatment, we have discussed financially what we would have to do. I would urge people to write to Jamie Reed to get him to fight for local people to have the right to these drugs.”

Mark Graham, communications manager, said the PCT takes care to use clinical evidence from NICE and advice from NHS Cancer Network when deciding which drugs to fund.

“NICE and the local NHS Cancer Network does not recommend the use of Avastin for certain types of cancer.

“All the primary care trust’s decisions are based on the clinical evidence of the drug, the patient’s individual case and any exceptional clinical circumstances that may apply.”