BREAST cancer sufferers in England have received a major boost, thanks to a campaign led by a late Barrhead woman.

The NHS has approved the Kadcyla drug for routine use south of the border for women battling against an aggressive form of the disease – despite rejecting the treatment in 2015.

It comes just months after Scottish health bosses finally agreed to Lesley Graham’s demands for change and made the pioneering £90,000-per-patient wonder drug readily available.

The announcement that Kadclya will be available to patients in England was made on the day mum-of-two Lesley was laid to rest.

After being diagnosed with HER2 positive breast cancer, doctors informed Lesley she had between four and six months to live.

However, she fought the disease for a year before passing away earlier this month.

Neilston-born Lesley, 40, showed incredible determination during her dispute with NHS bosses over the right to be given access to the drug and went on to lead a national Unlock Kadcyla movement.

Two years ago, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) claimed the drug didn’t work well enough to justify its high cost.

However, a deal has now been struck between NHS England and manufacturers Roche.

The agreement will see Kadcyla – which can extend the lives of women with terminal breast cancer by an average of six months – made available to about 1,200 patients each year.

Lesley’s husband Colin spoke of his joy after learning of the agreement, acknowledging the part his wife played in the process.

He told the Barrhead News: “I thought that Lesley’s campaign, and the fact that the drug had been approved in Scotland, would add to the pressure the NHS in England would be under to overturn the decision to deny access to Kadcyla as it had previously been available.

“It is very pleasing to hear that Lesley has again had a positive impact on the battle for access to this drug in another country, helping a huge amount of people get extra time to make memories with their loved ones, as Lesley did.

“I hope this now gathers pace and the same decision can be made to give access to this drug in Wales and Northern Ireland because, as Lesley would say, everyone deserves a chance.”