A MUM of two with months to live today pleaded with health bosses to pay for a cancer-beating drug that could save her life.

Michelle Hilton, 37, of Beechwood Drive, Blackburn, has been told by doctors at the Christie Hospital, Manchester,that they have exhausted all forms of treatment on her for breast cancer, except a new drug called Herceptin, which is her last hope.

But Michelle was stunned to learn that the drug was unavailable on the NHS, despite it being passed safe for use in Britain in 1999, and even though the Department of Health is testing it on patients in Merseyside and Birmingham. In the USA it has been available for four years.

The government's National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) was expected to grant approval for general release in July, but this has been postponed until November while it reviews the evidence about using it on its own to tackle cancer.

Professor Gordon McVie, director general of the Cancer Research Campaign, has attacked the move, saying bureaucracy is putting lives at risk.

The only way to obtain the drug is for a doctor to write to a health authority and request emergency funding.

Michelle said her doctor applied to East Lancs Health Authority on Thursday. A spokesman for the authority said it was yet to be notified of the approach but it may be able to provide the drug.

Michelle's case follows that of Manchester mum Susan Price, who was refused treatment with the drug at the Christie Hospital, the regional cancer treatment centre, even though she only has six months to live. It is now understood that her local health authority is to pay for the drug for Mrs Price and nine other women.

Michelle said she received a letter from The Christie Hospital on Saturday encouraging her to seek the drug through her health authority. It said they urged the NICE to make Herceptin available on the NHS and that the delay was having serious consequences.

Herceptin targets an overactive gene -- HER2 -- that is associated with cancer growth in one in five women. Tests showed Michelle is in this 20 percent.

Research has proved it slows the growth and spread of tumours. An American study found that patients given Herceptin in addition to chemotherapy had a 10 per cent better chance of survival.

It is thought that the estimated cost to the NHS per year if the drug is added would be £10m -- critics think this is the reason for the delay.

This breaks down to £20,000 per patient per year on the NHS.

The treatment could be administered privately for £1,000 for the first week, and then £700 after that.

The treatment is for one year, but depending on its success it could go on for longer.

Michelle said: "We have been waiting to hear about this for more than 18 months.

"Doctors have said if you don't get this treatment there is nothing else.

"I am on borrowed time and when you have a husband and a family, it's not nice to go through this.

"Only Liverpool and Birmingham are getting the drug and that is wrong.

"It's like a death sentence if they don't give it. I've got a grim reaper on my shoulder."

Michelle's six and half years with cancer have taken their toll on her family -- husband Barry, and Peri, 14, and Bethany, 11. She has had three lots of chemotherapy, and two lots of radiotherapy. She also had a brain tumour for which she received radiotherapy

Michelle said: "I'm a strong person and that has definitely got me through a lot of it. There are times when you cannot keep fighting.

"My daughter goes to secondary school in September and I want to see that."

Prof Gordon McVie said: "Although it has been approved here by the Medical Evaluation Agency, there have been long delays in getting it through the system.

"Herceptin is a smart drug that doesn't work for everyone, but every patient deserves to find out whether they can benefit from it.

"It is the same old story of drugs that can be of benefit, not being made quickly available by the government."

A spokesperson for Breakthrough Breast Cancer said: "Breakthrough believes that women should be offered the best available care and that Herceptin should be available to all who can benefit from the drug."

A spokesperson for the East Lancashire Health Authority said: "For cancer treatment, protocol are agreed between trusts and the health authority and are funded accordingly.

"And as yet we are yet to receive an approach about this particular case.

"his drug could be available in this area, and it would be wrong to say it wouldn't.

"It is up to the doctor to contact the health authority to say it is required."