BREAST cancer sufferer Nicola Allford has forked out thousands of pounds for the potentially-lifesaving drug Herceptin.

Hundreds of well-wishers from her York church have also thrown themselves behind a major fundraising drive in a bid for the treatment to continue.

But now, in a move which could have repercussions for other sufferers, York health chiefs could meet the £27,000 cost for the medication.

Nicola, 33, from Heworth, York, who is married to Mark, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer earlier this year, and has undergone gruelling surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

But despite the treatment, her doctors told her there was a "significant risk" of the cancer recurring. Nicola, who attends St Michael Le Belfrey Church, Deangate, decided to take the expensive drug Herceptin, as researchers believe it can halve the chance of it recurring. She was initially told it would not be available on the NHS.

But now in the light of a number of high-profile cases, Selby and York NHS Primary Care Trust (PCT) has revealed it would foot the bill if doctors agree it could be effective.

Somerset nurse Barbara Clark recently won her battle to get Herceptin prescribed on the NHS.

St Michael's Church co-ordinator Mark Rance organised a fundraising event at Bishopthorpe Palace last night in aid of Nicola's treatment bills.

He said: "This treatment is ground-breaking and in particular cases like Nicola's it cuts the chances of the cancer recurring by 50 per cent. She has now been told she could receive the treatment on the NHS.

"Nicola has already started the treatment and paid out thousands of pounds."

Mr Rance has told fundraisers any money not needed for the treatment will be donated to local cancer charities.

A PCT spokesman said: "Herceptin, for early breast cancer, has been treated exceptionally by the Department of Health because of new research evidence."

He said funding was provided for testing for HER2, a gene which is susceptible to treatment with Herceptin, for all new breast cancer patients, adding: "Patients with advanced breast cancer and who are HER2 positive are already offered Herceptin when appropriate on the recommendation of the patient's non-surgical oncologist, and with the patient's informed consent."

The trust would consider funding the use of Herceptin in HER2-positive new, early stage breast cancer cases, under certain conditions.

Updated: 09:54 Friday, November 18, 2005