Fight for cancer drug continues

Mrs Pickles said the women would take their court battle 'all the way'

Three women who have been denied a life-extending bone cancer drug have set up a website to raise funds to continue their fight in court.

Janice Wrigglesworth, Jacky Pickles and Marie Morton, from Keighley, West Yorkshire, said they were stepping up their campaign for access to Velcade.

The women spoke as guidance from the government's health watchdog said the drug should not be used on the NHS.

Velcade slows the advance of myeloma - cancer of bone marrow plasma cells.

On Friday the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) said more research into the drug was needed.

About 4,000 people are diagnosed with myeloma in the UK each year.

Velcade is the first new treatment for the cancer in more than 10 years and has been licensed for more than two years for patients who have relapsed.

Mrs Pickles, 44, said she was disgusted that England was stuck in the "dark ages" while the drug was available in Scotland.

Velcade can prolong life for up to two-and-a-half years

She met Mrs Wriggleworth, 59, and Mrs Morton, 57, while having cancer treatment.

She said: "We are more determined than ever. We have spoken to the lawyer who represented Barbara Clark when she fought for Herceptin and we will go all the way.

"We will go through the European Court of Human Rights if we need to - although we are hoping the Government steps in before then."

The women have launched a website, www.velcadethree.co.uk, to raise funds for their court battle.

Velcade costs between £9,000 and £18,000 for a course of treatment.