THE decision by NICE was given a warm welcome yesterday by Paul Cooper a former York carriageworks trades unionist who has campaigned for many years on behalf of asbestos victims and their families.
"I am very, very pleased by this decision," said Mr Cooper.
He said he had sadly known many former colleagues who had fallen victim to mesothelioma over the years, who would have benefited had Alimta been available.
He said it was inevitable more former Carriageworks employees would suffer from the cancer in the future, and some of them would be helped through the treatment.
He said it was an alternative to what could be very radical surgery that was not always successful.
Mr Cooper believed it was "disgusting" that a postcode lottery had existed, which denied treatment to patients in York who would have been entitled to the drug had they lived in some other parts of the UK.
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