Kasia Boddy takes a cocktail of drugs and has chemotherapy

After Kasia Boddy's cancer was diagnosed four months ago, her doctors wanted her treated with Herceptin.

But Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge said it had not been licensed to treat early breast cancer by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence.

In a statement the hospital said until it had been, they would not be offering this treatment to patients.

Herceptin is not a cure for cancer, but doctors say it is a major breakthrough, reducing the chances of the disease returning for some patients because of the way it works.

What's the point of encouraging all these women to have early screening and early detection if you're then going to deprive them of the drug that can save their lives? Kasia Boddy

Normal treatments like chemotherapy poison the cancer cells, but are indiscriminate and kill off healthy cells at the same time.

Herceptin attacks the tumour cells then stimulates the body's own immune system to kill them but only one in five patients has the right genetic make up for it to work.

It is licensed to be given to patients in the most advanced stages of cancer but not to people with in the earlier stages.

Monday's statement from Addenbrooke's said: "We always want the best for our patients and we are aware from recent trials in America that Herceptin is an effective new treatment for breast cancer.

"However, Herceptin has not been licensed by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) for the treatment of breast cancer and until it has been we will not be offering this treatment to our patients."

Ms Boddy, 38, of Cambridge, said until she was denied the Herceptin, she had nothing but praise for the NHS for its wonderful treatment from caring and efficient doctors and nurses.

The malignant tumour has been removed and she takes a daily cocktail of medicines after undergoing five cycles of chemotherapy with three more to go.

She said a lot of money was spent encouraging women to go for screening and to examine themselves, telling them that early diagnosis was the key to survival.

"What's the point of encouraging all these women to have early screening and early detection if you're then going to deprive them of the drug that can save their lives?" she said.

The drug is already used for advanced cancer

She added: "The lack of a licence in itself does not mean that doctors cannot prescribe the drug. It happens all the time."

Ms Boddy is now planning to borrow money and use savings to pay for private treatment which costs about �30,000 a year for each patient.

She has also joined a lobby group, urging the government to speed up the licensing of Herceptin.

Last month Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt ordered a fast-track assessment of the drug because of concerns that it was being denied to patients who could benefit.

NICE will now assess whether it should be made widely available on the NHS.