WHEN someone is diagnosed with cancer, loved ones can feel so useless.

It is hard being on the sidelines watching a friend or family member go through treatment. And it must be heartbreaking to be told that a drug that might help them is not available on the NHS.

This is the situation facing cancer patient Kate Amin. Her friend Lucy Chapman decided not to stand by and do nothing. Instead, she created a crowdfunding page to raise thousands of pounds to help Kate access the alternative drug, Avastin.

Kate was just 36 when she was diagnosed with bowel cancer and secondary liver cancer in March. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy have not worked as hoped and she and husband Nathen believe Avastin will make a difference. So far, generous donors have given £15,000 towards the £18,000 appeal target, allowing Kate to begin a course of treatment.

The rationing of drugs is a sad fact of life in the UK. So it is marvellous that Kate has such caring friends and family who are able to fundraise to get her the treatment she believes will help.

We wish her well.