Cancer treatment 'fast-tracked'

The drug will be available for early-stage cancer

The cancer drug Herceptin will be fast-tracked for women in Scotland, the Scottish Executive has confirmed.

On Wednesday it was announced all women with early-stage breast cancer in England would be tested to see if they were eligible for the drug.

Scottish women can already be tested but the Scottish Executive said it would make the drug available quickly, once it is licensed.

The drug was previously only used to treat women with late-stage cancer.

On Monday, former nurse Barbara Clark won a legal battle with health authorities in Somerset to be treated with Herceptin for early breast cancer.

The UK Government announced the changes following the court ruling.

However, the drug is unlikely to be given a European licence before summer next year.

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