Cancer patient on how Abiraterone has helped his treatment

The NHS drugs regulator in England, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), has rejected a treatment for men with prostate cancer.

The drug Abiraterone is already given to men after chemotherapy but NICE says it is too expensive to be offered before men start chemo.

Mike Sawkins was diagnosed with advanced cancer six years ago.

He has been taking the drug since March, funded by the Cancer Drugs Fund, a special pot set aside for cancer drugs not routinely available on the NHS.

Mr Sawkins says it has allowed him to live a relatively normal life.