NHS denies man drug that could save his eyesight

A LEADING cancer specialist is battling to save the sight of a 70-year-old man whose aggressive facial tumour has been allowed to spread unchecked for years after the NHS denied him a drug that could shrink it.

- By Lucy Johnston SOCIAL AFFAIRS EDITOR

Private oncologist Dr James Wilson says Sergei Ouvarov, from Birmingham, urgently needs vismodegib, a breakthrough pill that could reduce the tumour spreading through his face.

But current NHS guidelines only permit access to the drug if a patient has multiple skin tumours not just one however destructive.

"This man's tumour is destroying his eye," said Dr Wilson. "The only option he's been offered on the NHS is to have his eyelids sewn shut.

"My main concern is that the tumour is now approaching his other eye."

He continued: "This drug could shrink the tumour significantly.

"The rules are far too rigid - we need common sense and clinical discretion."

He says the drug, which costs £8,000 a month, is not available on the NHS for cases like Mr Ouvarov's due to recommendations by the UK advisory body NICE (the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence).