A cancer patient helped by a Helston charity has successfully won an appeal to receive his treatment on the NHS.

Back in July the Packet reported how kidney cancer sufferer John Quance had faced having to sell his home to pay for the treatment drug Sutent that doctors believe would prolong his life.

Cancer Funding for Cornwall, based in Coinagehall Street and run by Margaret Fitter, gave Mr Quance more than £3,500 to pay for one month's supply of the drug, which the Cornwall Primary Care Trust would initially not agree to fund.

After hearing about his plight, an anonymous donor known only as "Dally" contacted Mrs Fitter and offered to pay for a further month's treatment.

However, Mrs Fitter said on Monday (September 24) that St Austell-based Mr Quant had successfully won an appeal against the decision and the Trust had now agreed to fund his treatment.

The result means that the anonymous donation - which had not yet been spent - has been left spare. When Mrs Fitter contacted the donor, he asked the money to go towards another patient's treatment.

Mrs Fitter said: "This is now going to be put towards a cancer patient who has lung cancer. For the last 15 months their family and friends had been funding the drug, at £1,600 a month. It's brilliant - at least we can help another patient that nobody knows about."

She added that she believed forcing the patient's family and friends to pay for the drug was "scandalous."

Cancer Funding for Cornwall - formerly the Macmillan Nurses charity shop - hands out grants to cancer patients in the county, as well as to their families and carers.