The NHS ethos "that treatment should be free at the point of need" falls down when they will not provide the treatment to those at the point of need, forcing them to look at co-payment, or own funding if they want to extend their lives. It is MORALLY WRONG and unjust.
Not a socialist idiom

Barry Humphrey, North Walsham, Norfolk

Why shouldnt we pay for any "extra" treatment? If we have money it is because we worked for it and are entiled to spend it as we wish. Why the big brother attitude of fairness? Why should all suffer for the few as usual who have spent their earning on other things and have ensured that "the state must now keep them". Isnt that a selfish attitude? Having cancer isnt selfish and I bet the people who created this silly philosophy havent got cancer. If they eventually get it, as some must, I wonder if they will turn to private treatment to help save their lives!!!!!!!!! How on earth can it become a two tier system for those who have plenty of money will be private patients anyway. Are we not talking about those who will now sell or mortgage their homes or use their savings to continue their lives as best thay can. Start the clinical trials for STX140 and forge ahead with that potential wonder drug. It could save millions of lives. What a government we have!!!!!!

Mike Harding, Gloucester, United Kingdom

Cancer patients should be allowed to spend their OWN money exactly as they choose.

Some have more money than others? Correct!

Not fair? Life's not fair! Getting breast cancer is extremely not fair!

Not fair on the rest who don't have so much money?

That's the NHS's and the Government's problem.

Individuals should not be penalised because the NHS prefers to spend its money on admin (hands up who has ever had a letter asking if we still want that operation?), IVF (do we REALLY need more people in this country?) and inflating GP's (QALY points) salaries -to name but a few - rather than saving the lives of the people who FUND it.

Sarah, Carcassonne, France

"Ministers say ",what ministers and what do they say?Stick a microphone under their noses and get them to spell it out.
Let us have names and faces to these creeps who would rather these ladies went to a corner and died quietly.
If the Minister or the minister's wife had cancer all bets would be off.They,senior civil servants and most doctors now have private healthcare just as their children go to fee paying schools.
We already, as we should ,have a two-tier system for those that can afford the cost of private medicene and schooling.
It's not that the state should exist for us,rather than us for the state,that went out the window many years ago, but the sheer bloody hypocracy.

robert everitt, wolverhampton,

Dec '07: diagnosed with advanced colorectal cancer. Cetuximab is approved for use in most (if not all) other industrialised countries *except * for the UK, which ironically performed and led the trials (paid for by the UK taxpayer). Cetuximab has been proven (by the trials paid for by us) to improve both quality of life, and in some cases, potentially lead to a cure for secondary mets in the liver by as much as 23-24% (see medicalnewstoday.com). NICE (national institute for clinical excellence) have refused to approve this drug for NHS patients within the UK purely on the grounds of cost. Should I wish to either improve my quality of life, or attempt to increase my chances of survival of this killer, I have to 'go private' and pay for *ALL* of my chemotherapy myself, I am disgusted that at 39 years of age I have been condemned to death by this Government/Country and its penny-pinching philosophy - and all this from someone who has a brother who works as a cancer manager in the NHS!!!!!

David Willson, St Albans, Herts

Well, I thought this was new labour in charge now. What sort of crazy retrograde message does this send out. ...' All must be equal regardless of whether that equalty is below acceptable standards and you could increase your risk of dying.'
So the next thing is that if you drive to the rail station you should not be allowed to use public transport. You should walk there like everyone else, or use your car for the entire journey so everyone is equal.
If an individual is willing to supplement and some might say subsidise their N.H.S. treatment, for which let us not forget, they have paid into all their lives it seems a no brainer that they should be encouraged of they feel that an extra treatment or medication would be beneficial or extend their lives.
At the moment If you have no house or savings the state will pay for all your nursing home care and give you pocket money. f you have a house or have saved some money up, it will all be confiscated to pay nursing home fees.

Diddly Do, Liverpool,