Cancer Boost

A BREAKTHROUGH bowel cancer drug is to be made available to Scots patients.

Cancer charities yesterday welcomed a Scottish Medicines Consortium decision to approve the use of the new drug Xeloda.

The drug, an oral chemotherapy treatment taken at home, has proven to be effective in preventing tumours returning in cancer patients after surgery.

Jim Cassidy, professor of oncology at Glasgow’s Beatson Oncology Centre, said the drug would take significant strain off cancer services