A 46-year-old woman suffering from an incurable cancer has an anxious wait this Christmas to find out whether a drug that could prolong her life will be supplied by the NHS.

Jayne Mapp was diagnosed with bowel cancer two-and-a-half years ago and doctors believe they have exhausted every chance they have of ridding her body of the disease.

But there is one drug that could help suppress the cancer and prolong life of Mrs Mapp, of Howlsmere Close, Halling, near Rochester.

She is waiting to hear back from the Medway Primary Care Trust (PCT) who will decide if they can afford to prescribe the drug. It could be her last chance.

“We went to see a doctor and he said the last course of drugs we used had no effect and there was nothing else the hospital could do, except for this one drug which the NHS doesn’t prescribe,” said her husband Phil.

“But the doctor has written to the PCT to ask them to consider funding the drug in this case.”

Mrs Mapp has undergone surgery to remove her bowel and has had courses of both radiotherapy and chemotherapy but the cancer still remains in her body.

The drug she now needs is Cetuximab, also known as Erbitux, a course of which is understood to cost about £700 a week.

It is used specifically to treat bowel cancer that has remained after treatment and spread to other parts of the body.

But the decision to provide the drug will come down to a PCT panel which will pick up the bill for the treatment.

Mr Mapp, 53, who cares for his wife at their home, said: “Jayne’s in terrible pain but she is receiving pain management. We’re both fighting it together but without this drug we’re not sure how long she has got left.

“This drug is our last chance. I know it would be costly but there’s no value on a human life.”

The PCT is waiting to receive a letter from Mrs Mapp’s surgeon and for her documents to be sent to them.

A spokesman for Medway Primary Care Trust

said: “Although we cannot comment on individual cases, the panel considers the opinion of the specialists referring cases for funding as well as those of other clinicians working in the field.

“In coming to a decision the panel will consider factors including: whether the request is for a health need; the urgency; clinical evidence of the need for the intervention and its efficacy.

“It will also consider national and local policies, protocols and guidance; value for money; whether the PCT already has a service level agreement for the treatment with an alternative provider.

“In addition the panel will need to explore whether other local PCTs provided funding for this treatment; whether the request is supported by the patient’s GP or consultant; special circumstances including continuity of care) and the outcomes of similar cases considered by the panel previously.

“The panel meets on a monthly basis but will consider urgent cases in between these planned meetings.”