A cancer patient whose life has been prolonged by a trial drug has criticised a decision not to make it routinely available on the NHS.
Peter Lane, of Fairwarp, near Uckfield, says he would not be alive today if he had not been given Avastin as part of his treatment.
Mr Lane, 57, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in spring 2006 and it spread to other parts of his body, including his liver.
The liver tumour was inoperable but Mr Lane's consultant recommended him for the Avastin trial.
The drug shrank the tumour enough for surgeons to be able to operate in 2007 and remove the rest of it.
Despite the success of the trial the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has given a preliminary ruling that Avastin should not be available on the NHS because it is not cost-effective.
It means patients will have to apply to their local primary care trust for special funding to pay for the drug.
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