Tumours patient in cash fight shows an improvement

A CANCER patient who decided to pay for treatment after failing to get NHS cash for it has seen an improvement in his symptoms.

Ian Bowers began taking the drug, Sunitinib, also known as Sutent, in the hope it will reduce or even get rid of dozens of tumours on his lungs.

His rare form of cancer had previously been unsuccessfully treated with two courses of radiotherapy.

Sunitinib is not usually available on the NHS because it has not been proven to work for people with Ian's condition.

But Ian was keen to try it so decided to pay privately.

Following his first month of treatment, his wife, Jane Richards, says there has been a marked improvement in his health.

She said: "His symptoms have reduced quite dramatically.

"His blood pressure and pulse are normal, he's not sweating and doesn't have the agitation he did before.

"But we won't have any hard evidence that his tumours have reduced until he has a scan."

While Ian has been under-going treatment Jane has been raising £12,068 to cover the cost.

She is delighted to have hit the target after holding an auction last week which brought in £2,079.

It followed a number of other fund-raising events and donations from family and friends.

The cash will pay for three month-long courses of Sunitinib, which cost £3,610 each, and three consultations, which cost £440 each.

Jane, of The Hill, in Cromford, said: "Ian will have a scan in December. We don't yet know how much that will cost but we can pay for it and any further costs.

"The fund-raising is now over. I'd like to say a massive thank-you to everyone who has given us support. We've had donations, cards and letters – people have been amazing."

Ian, 40, is in an on-going battle with Derbyshire County Primary Care Trust to get it to pay for further treatment.

He was diagnosed with the rare cancer, phaeochromocytoma, in January 2007, and had a tumour weighing 1lb 1oz removed from near a kidney. The tumours in his lungs release hormones which affect his blood pressure and heart rate.

A spokeswoman for Derbyshire County Primary Care Trust has said the complaint was being investigated.