NHS cancer patients denied supportive treatments

More than 70000 cancer patients suffer avoidable pain, fatigue, fractures, and other debilitating side effects every year, according to a report released this week by the Campaign for Effective and Rational Treatment.

The organisation, sponsored by 10 pharmaceutical companies, was established in 1996 in response to clinicians' concerns about patients' unequal access to some NHS treatments. It has previously lobbied for improved access to combination drugs for HIV and for nicotine replacement treatments to be free.

Earlier this year it …