A WOMAN dying of cancer is pulling out all the stops to save others by presenting a petition of more than 14,000 names calling for the NHS to fund a wonder drug which would combat the disease.

Linda Johnson, 57, a former nurse at Basildon Hospital, took her petition to parliament yesterday to protest about cuts being made to health service’s cancer fund. The Echo revealed last month how Linda, who was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007, was given months of extra life thanks to drug Eribulin.

However, the NHS has since stopped funding the £3,000 threeweek course of injections alongside 24 other treatments for cancer.

Mrs Johnson, from Earl Mountbatten Drive, Billericay, said: “My interest is in breast cancer, but this is for all cancer drugs if they are proven to be effective.

“I am asking the Government to reverse its decision.

“It should be up to oncologists and patients to decide if treatment continues.

“I started Eribulin last June and it led to a dramatic increase in the amount of time I had. It may not work for everyone, but then chemotherapy doesn’t work for everyone.

“We have got to have a chance for it to work as when it does, the results are dramatic.

“We are living with cancer, not dying from cancer. We are having good and active lives.

“Many of us are still working or having children.”

Despite admitting it is too late for her as her illness is too far gone, Mrs Johnson, wants to help other people with terminal cancer enjoy more time with their loved ones and has won the support of thousands, including Echo readers.

Mrs Johnson underwent a lumpectomy, mastectomy and even had ribs removed and replaced with prosthetic ones as she battled the disease, which has now spread to her skin, uterus and chest wall.

She has been told the cancer will inevitably spread to her lungs, liver or brain.