A PETITION started by an Usk woman calling for a cancer drugs fund in Wales which has been signed by more than 97,000 people will be presented to the Welsh Government next month.

The petition was started by Julie McGowan when her friend Ann Wilkinson, who has suffered with cancer for three years, initially had her application to receive the potentially life-prolonging Avastin drug turned down earlier this year.

If Mrs Wilkinson lived in England, she was told, she would be able to use the English NHS’ cancer drugs fund – but the Welsh Government has resisted calls for one to be set up.

And Mrs McGowan said she hopes the petition will reach 100,000 signatures before it is handed over by Monmouth AM Nick Ramsay on the Senedd’s steps in Cardiff on November 5. Monmouth MP David Davies will also hand a copy of the petition to the Westminster government.

She had originally hoped to gather 1,000 signatures – but she said the “unfairness of the situation struck a chord with so many people that the petition escalated.

“People believe that having paid into a UK National Health Service all their lives they are going to get equal treatment when they really need it, and then are shocked to discover that it’s not the case.”

The Aneurin Bevan Health Board has now relented on Mrs Wilkinson’s case. Earlier this month she was granted three courses of Avastin.

And Mrs Wilkinson said although she is pleased the health board has reconsidered her application, she is still angered others might lose out.

She added: “I still have to go through the process of applying for more treatment at the end of three months, with no guarantee of success.”

An Aneurin Bevan Health Board spokesman said: “Avastin has been appraised by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for use in the treatment of certain cancers but not for routine use in the NHS in England or Wales.

“All medicines approved by NICE for use in the NHS are made available in Wales.

“Our Individual Patient Request Funding Panel meets to consider requests to fund treatment outside of the guidance issued by NICE.

“Based on the medical evidence provided when the panel meets they must decide whether a patient would receive a greater clinical benefit from the treatment than others who have the same disease.

“Where no clinical exceptionality can be identified a clear process is outlined in the All Wales Policy on Making Individual Patient Funding “Requests for requesting a review of the decision made and submitting further clinical information for consideration.

“On occasions a decision not to provide a treatment is overturned following the submission of additional clinical evidence to the panel.”

Any supporters who attend the petition handover in Cardiff are asked to be at the Senedd by 12.45pm on November 5.

To sign the petition visit change.org/cancerdrugswales