WE are delighted for ex-nurse Barbara Clark who has won her battle to get vital breast cancer drugs on the NHS.

It's disgraceful that Barbara faced the prospect of having to sell her home to pay privately for the drug Herceptin - which can cost up to £40,000.

Although diagnosed with breast cancer, Barbara was told she could not have the drug because her illness was not terminal.

Tests have shown the drug can greatly extend life expectancy, but it has yet to be approved for use on women in the early stages of the illness.

With clear evidence that the drug has the potential to make a big difference to as many as 10,000 women in that category every year, why can't they get it?

And why has this lottery of life been going on for so many years? Just how many women have died as a result?

Take the tragic case of Eileen Quigley. Way back in January 2000, Barry Ogleby's partner Eileen fell victim to breast cancer.

Barry from Thirsk, North Yorkshire, battled to get the drug for Eileen after the NHS said no.

By the time they said yes, the advanced cancer had riddled her body and Eileen died only a couple of months later.

Naturally, Mr Ogleby is still furious about the delay and can't believe that women still can't get Herceptin. Neither can we.

So today we call on the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (Nice) to approve this life-giving drug now and we sincerely hope that all cancer sufferers, wherever they live, get the best treatment - no matter how much it costs.

And we hope that brave Barbara's treatment goes well and wish her the very best of health.