TWO cancer charities are hitting out at NHS guidelines which mean people with terminal kidney cancer cannot get funding for a drug which would prolong their lives.

Yesterday, we reported how Chepstow grandfather Chris Lewis, 54, is campaigning for all those who would benefit from the drug sutent to be granted funding for it on the NHS.

Mr Lewis, of Pwllmeyric, has terminal kidney cancer, which has spread to his spine and lungs.

He was told the drug could help prolong his life at least six months, but Monmouthshire Local Health Board won’t fund it because of guidance from the Assembly’s All Wales Medicine Strategy Group and National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) which doesn’t recommend the drug because they say it is not cost effective.

A final decision is expected in January 2009.

The grandfather of four says he wouldn’t take the drug if it was offered to him unless it becomes available in this way.

His wife, Caroline Lewis, 52, said: “I’m so proud. That’s the kind of person he is, he’s always fighting for other people.”

She said Mr Lewis always looked out for others during his 12 years as a borough and town councillor in Brecon and his five years serving for the Royal Regiment Wales.

General Manager for Macmillan Cancer Support in Wales, Cath Lindley, said: "Kidney cancer is a devastating disease with few treatment options but drugs such as Sutent could give some patients extra time and a better quality of life which could be extremely precious to patients like Christopher Lewis and his family.”

Cancer Research UK’s chief clinician, Professor Peter Johnson, added: “These drugs have shown a small but definite improvement in an illness where there are few alternative treatments.

“If this decision stands it will be very frustrating for cancer patients and their clinicians.”

A NICE spokesman said NHS resources aren’t limitless and evidence shows that although clinically effective, sutent is not cost-effective.

He said if sutent was provided on the NHS, other patients would lose out on treatments that are both clinically and cost effective.

He said the guidelines have undergone consultation which will be reviewed before the final decision is made.