A TERMINALLY-ill grandmother who won a landmark battle to force health chiefs to pay for a cancer drug which can prolong life, said today she was 'over the moon' that it has been finally been approved.

But Jean Murphy 62, from Salford, said she cannot understand why it has taken so long - and why three other drugs that could help kidney cancer sufferers have not been given the go-ahead.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) announced today that it has recommended the use of Sutent as a first-line treatment for advanced renal cancer.

Jean, who says she felt better within days of starting treatment with the drug, said: "I'm so chuffed for everyone that they can now get this drug.

"It's just such a shame that they have dawdled for so long over the decision, during which time people have died when their lives could have been prolonged.

"If drugs are there that can help people, they should be given out for God's sake. I think it's disgraceful that it was withheld for so long."

Jean who won her landmark battle to get Sutent after being refused funding four times by the Salford Primary Care Trust, said: "I just had to do something, and I intend to keep going until the other drugs have also been given approval. Whatever happened to the old NHS cradle to the grave promise?"

Prof Robert Hawkins, Mrs Murphy's consultant at Manchester's Christie Hospital, said he was sure that the decision by Nice had been influenced by publicity over high profile cases including that of music legend Anthony Wilson who fought for Sutent to be funded for everyone with kidney cancer.

But he said: "Jean pushed things the hardest, and I'm sure that it helped enormously. I think it really brought it home to Nice that we saw something special about this drug."

He said: "I am delighted that it has been approved. It will save a lot of anxiety and upset among patients who previously had to apply on an individual basis for it.

"I am a little surprised however that the other drugs have not been approved. Sutent was our preferred drug, but there are pros and cons for all of them."

Mrs Murphy's lawyer, Mark McGhee, said: "There is no way in a million years that they would have done what they have done, but for the pressure that Jean brought to bear.

"As soon as she began taking the drug, it had a significant effect, and the likelihood is that had she not been given Sutent, she wouldn't be here now."

Andrew Dillon, chief executive of Nice said today: "Many people have made the point very strongly that they regard the ability of the NHS to extend life as being of special importance, and so we looked at the way our advisory committees go about valuing extension to life.

"We wanted to make sure that they had enough flexibility in all circumstances to make a recommendation where drugs have the ability to give people some additional life."

He said the other three drugs being looked at - Avastin, Nexavar and Torisel - would now be the subject of further consultation.

Nice said it took into account the offer of the manufacturer Pfizer, to provide the first cycle of Sutent (Sunitnib) free to the NHS when making its decision.

The average daily cost of the drug is around £75, with an average six-week cycle costing more than £3,000.

Michael Rowson, policy manager at Macmillan Cancer Support said described the Nice decision as a victory for kidney cancer patients - and something that was long overdue.

"This decision recognises the need to fund drugs that improve quality of life for patients and we appluse Nice for making Sutent available to all who need it," he said.

Jean Murphy was told last April that she had 18 months to live, but since starting her treatment she says she has stopped using a wheelchair, oxygen supply and stairlift. Before taking the drug she was virtually housebound, but is now able to shop for the family and socialise again.

Music legend and television presenter Anthony Wilson who died in August 2007, had been refused the drug, and was only able to use it after showbiz friends paid for the treatment.

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