Vanessa Kyte believes the drug could prolong her life

Two years ago Vanessa Kyte, from Somerset, was prescribed Herceptin after chemotherapy and radiotherapy failed to cure the disease.

Two weeks ago she was told that because it had spread to her brain she could no longer have the drug.

But Mrs Kyte and her consultant at Bath's Royal United Hospital believe the treatment could prolong her life.

'Moral question'

Mrs Kyte said: "The decision ultimately lies with the PCT. My consultant would recommend it, as would the doctor we spoke to at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London, but because of where we live his hands are tied.

"Why should we have to put our house up for sale? My girls are already going to lose their mother, why should they lose their home too?"

BBC Health Correspondent Matthew Hill said: "Patient at Bristol's oncology centre have been given Herceptin even after the cancer has reached their brains, and some of them have lived much longer than expected.

"The NHS is well within its rights to refuse people the treatment when the disease has reached this stage, but Mrs Kyte's case does raise the question of whether this is morally right."

A spokesman for the Royal United Hospital said they were unaware of Mrs Kyte's case, but hoped to speak to her about it. They have also offered her a third medical opinion.