A TERMINALLY-ill man's appeal to have a cancer drug on the NHS began yesterday.

Keith Ditchfield, 52, said he has high hopes for his appeal to make health chiefs foot the bill for Nexavar following a successful drugs trial.

Mr Ditchfield, of Whalley Road, Stonyhurst, is having to pay £3,000 a month himself for the drug to treat his kidney cancer.

East Lancashire health bosses have so far refused to pay for it as they said there was no firm evidence it was working. But a panel from the primary care trust is now re-assessing this decision.

Mr Ditchfield said: "They have to prove the drug isn't working. The evidence is there that it is working so I feel they have to approve it, I don't think they have a choice."

A PCT spokesman said: "The board members' panel will look at all the information and consider any additional information."