Smash Hit

Win tickets to the ATP finals

Navigation - link to other main sections from here

Skip Navigation

From The Times
February 27, 2007

Patient wins cancer drug plea

Russell Jenkins

STONYHURST A cancer sufferer who spent £70,000 on a drug that he believed would prolong his life has been told it can now be prescribed on the NHS.

Keith Ditchfield, 53, a businessman who lives in Stonyhurst, Lancashire, is terminally ill. He learnt of Nexavar while receiving treatment in Germany.

When he asked for the medication to be prescribed on the health service last year, he was turned down.

Since then Mr Ditchfield, has been buying the drug and believes that it has prolonged his life and left him, at least temporarily, in remission.

He has now been told that his appeal against the decision by East Lancashire Primary Care Trust has been successful.

Nexavar was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2005 and is widely prescribed in Europe for advanced cancers.

Bookmark and Share

Also in UK News

Also in News

Comment     

India Knight
 

I am irritated by middle-class people making a virtue of sending their kids to state schools, as though they were brave pioneers  

More...
India Knight

Soldiers killed

The silhouettes of soldiers are reflected on the window of a hearse carrying the coffin of Corporal Thomas Mason

Fresh doubts over Afghan mission as soldiers shot dead by policeman they were training

Slide Show

Sign Up

Bulletins

Free news bulletin direct to your inbox

Pictures of the Week

Palestinian demonstrators in the West Bank village, Bilin

A selection of the best pictures from around the world

Slide Show

Africa coup plot

British coup-plotter Simon Mann, right foreground, smiles in the courtroom after shaking hands with court officials following his pardon

Simon Mann pardoned after plotting to overthrow West African government

Slide Show

Comment Central

Inmates at Cebu prison perform a tribute to Michael Jackson

They brought you Thriller. Now they want to break free...

Military matters

Welsh Guards, and 2 Mercian B Command, and a Chinook helicopter in Gereshk, Afghanistan

Reports and features on our Armed Forces

Money Central

A MAN FILLS UP AT A PETROL PUMP

Ten tips to beat the 2p rise in fuel duty

Most Read

Skip Most Read

Today

MOST COMMENTED

Skip Editor's Pick

Today

MOST CURIOUS

Skip Most Curious

Today

Focus Zone

accenture

Need to Know:

Industry sectors news at a glance. Interactive heatmap, video and podcast

ba business travel clouds

Business Travel:

Everything the Business Traveller needs to know to make a better trip

Winter Sports

Winter Sports:

Get ready for the winter sports season, with our resort guides and snow reports

lloyds

British Business:

We are backing British business, what is the confidence of the nation and what businesses are succeeding?

Shell

The Future of Energy:

Growing demand for energy, oil that is harder to reach and the rise of carbon dioxide emissions. We examine the energy challenge

More Reports

More reports:

Enjoy further reading from Travel to Fashion, Business to Sport, discover more

previous next
The Singapore skyline pictured at night

Business city guides

Overseas contacts and local business information

Financial Brochures

Generic photo of a job interview.

Free CV Review

Sell yourself! Have your CV reviewed by experts

Money symbol on computer key

Find an IFA

Find a local independent financial advisor

crossword with Cross fountain pen.

Crossword Club

Sign up today or try one of our free demo crosswords

A lawyer with gown and wig

Find a Lawyer

Cut your legal costs

Sudoku

Online Sudoku with daily prizes

Popular Searches on Times Online

2010 movies | books | chess | crosswords | fantasy football | fashion | formula 1 | horoscopes | Michael Jackson | need to know | obituaries | recipes | redundancy calculator | science | sudoku | swine flu | twitter | university guide | wine | wintersun

Shortcuts to help you find sections and articles

Classifieds 

Cars

Skip Cars of the Week

New Audi A5 2.0 TDI Sportback

36-month car lease
on contract hire for
£359.99 plus VAT pm

Virgin Car Insurance

12 months for the price of 11 and a 5% discount.
Offer ends 31/11/09

Prestige Car Finance

The UK's leading alternative to showroom finance.
Finance packages tailored to your needs.
Minimum loan of £15,000

Jobs

Skip Jobs of the Week
Chair

£12,578 per annum
The Independent Housing Ombudsman
London

Opportunities in Operational Strategy

Competitive
Barclaycard

Trustee

Not Specified
The Sheppard Trust
London

Sales & Marketing Director

£80-95,000
Clay McGuire Executive Selection

Properties

Looking for a Mortgage?

See your free Experian credit report beforehand

Holidays

Skip Travel of the Week

Amazing Canada Ski deals fr £479pp

Book now & save over £100pp.
11 cool resorts, lowest prices... Early Booking offers 15 Nov.

Sunvil

20% off selected Azores holidays taken in October with Sunvil Discovery


Great Travel Insurance

Get covered on your travels with a superb range of policies at great prices. Visit InsureandGo.com


Fabulous Villas in Barbados

World Class Golf, Spa and preferential Beach Club.  Private estate overlooking West Coast
Villas from £275 per night inclusive of Golf

Place your advert now