Cancer patient wins drug battle

Jean Murphy has been taking Sutent for two months

A cancer patient has been told the NHS will fund a drug for her after being turned down twice before.

Jean Murphy, 63, who has kidney cancer spent six months unsuccessfully battling Salford Primary Care Trust's (PCT) decision not to pay for Sutent.

She received an anonymous donation to obtain the medication privately and her tumour has shrunk by half.

Mrs Murphy said she is "over the moon" about the PCT's agreement to pay for the potentially life-saving treatment.

She will get the drug on the NHS from Monday after her doctors said she had responded "unusually well" to the drug.

'Coming to senses'

Mrs Murphy said: "All the stress, worry and insecurity have gone.

"I want to thank Salford PCT for finally coming to their senses and funding the drugs I need.

"I still want to help other people, I have said this from the beginning and I will continue to fight for others who are being denied treatment from other PCTs."

Sutent, which costs about £3,500 a month to take, is not yet widely available on the NHS.

Mrs Murphy has been taking it for two months, thanks to the anonymous donor.

A spokeswoman for Salford PCT said: "The decision to fund Mrs Murphy's ongoing treatment was made after the PCT received a letter from Professor Robert Hawkins on October 14, 2008 advising the PCT that Mrs Murphy had responded unusually well to the drug Sutent, and was fortunate to be one of the minority of patients for whom this drug is effective.

"On this basis Salford PCT will provide the funding for the rest of Mrs Murphy's treatment at The Christie Hospital."