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Hearts of gold boost cancer drug appeal
A DYING man who is fighting a rare cancer said he has been overwhelmed by the response of local people who have given thousands of pounds for him to start a treatment denied by health chiefs.
Ian Bowers' wife Jane Richards (41) launched a fund-raising campaign after Derbyshire County Primary Care Trust refused his oncologist's application for Sutent, despite Jane saying the drug was their "last hope".
And since the story appeared in the Derbyshire Times two weeks ago, the couple has received donations and pledges – including an offer of 5,000 by an anonymous individual – to cover the 9,000 for a first course of treatment.
Ian (40), who lives on The Hill, Cromford, said: "It's overwhelming, I can't thank people enough. It restores your faith in humanity.
"It seems to be the case that people won't stand for it – that there are organisations with this money that can pay for this drug and won't pay for it."
former care assistant was diagnosed with a rare form of endocrine system cancer in 2008 which had spread to his lungs.
After several radioactive treatments proved ineffective, Ian's oncologist applied for funding from Derbyshire PCT for Sutent – a drug recently approved by NICE for patients with advanced kidney cancer but not neuroendocrine.
Ian had researched the enzyme inhibitor's use on endocrine tumours in other countries online and claimed there was evidence it had shrunk, even eradicated the growths.
With the cash now in place, Ian will start the first of three four-week cycles of treatment in around a fortnight.
He said: "I've got no expectations as to whether this Sutent will work or not but out of all the options put before me, it's the best one.
"Everything I've read about it is positive whereas chemotherapy is more likely to do more harm than good."
If the first round proves effective, Ian will need a further three cycles of the drug – costing another 9,000.
Collection boxes have been placed around Derbyshire and a fund-raising auction takes place at Masson Mill on October 22 at 7.30pm.
*To donate, call 07807 486594 or visit www.ianbowers.co.uk
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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