OXFORDSHIRE cancer campaigners are today expecting a landmark announcement that a life-extending cancer treatment should be made freely available on the NHS.

The drug licensing body, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice), was due to present its final guidance recommending the use of sunitinib for the treatment of advanced kidney cancer.

Earlier this year Nice issued draft guidance recommending the use of sunitinib for the treatment of kidney cancer.

Drugs company Pfizer, which manufactures sunitinib under the Sutent brand, said last night that Nice’s final guidance would be recommending Sunitinib for first-line treatment of advanced kidney cancer.

Last month, Oxfordshire PCT said it would start supplying the drug to patients before being ordered to.

Last night father-of-three Andy Crabb, from Abingdon, welcomed the news of Nice’s final recommendation.

He was one of a handful of patients in Oxfordshire to have won an appeal to be given the drub on the NHS.

He and his wife Dianne , of Crosslands Drive, had cashed in their pensions to pay for the tablets, which cost £3,300 every six weeks.

Mr Crabb said: “It’s fantastic news. I know a lot of people that want, need and are going to need it — and they will be over the moon at this. For me it has been brilliant. I still have my ups and downs, but I can basically lead a normal life.

“I’m not as strong as I used to be, but last week I spent two days in the garden clearing out the pond, I went fishing and I had the grandchildren over on Mothers’ Day.

“Basically it has been brilliant and I hope it will work for others.”

A spokesman for Oxfordshire PCT said: “The PCT welcomes the final guidance from Nice on sunitinib for the treatment of renal cancer.

“Following the draft recommendations from Nice in February, the PCT already started work with local clinicians treating patients, based on their clinical need before the final guidance was published.”

Andrew Dillon, the chief executive of Nice, said: “Following extensive consultation, I’m very pleased that we are now able to issue this important guidance in its final form.”