Two Sussex women battling breast cancer have welcomed news that a potentially life-saving drug could soon be available to those who need it.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has recommended that women with the early stages of HER-2 positive breast cancer should be given the drug Herceptin.

The guidance is still open to consultation and a final version will be issued early next month.

Sarah Steele, from Worthing, and Lesley Tipler, from Polegate, are both already receiving the drug but had to fight their local health trusts to get it. Ms Steele, 43, a mother of seven, said: "It is wonderful news.

"It will ease the feeling of guilt I get when I am having the drug, while there are so many other women who can't because of where they live.

"Now everyone who needs it should be able to get it easily and focus their efforts on getting better instead of worrying about whether they will get the treatment they need."

Ms Steele, who was going for her third course of treatment at Worthing Hospital on Thursday, is doing well.

She said: "I am feeling very healthy at the moment and back at work.

"It was a pity we had to fight the authorities to get the treatment but in the end they backed down. At least other women won't have to go through the same thing.

Mrs Tipler, 52, said: "The way things were was very unfair. I couldn't understand why some got it while others didn't.

"Now, at last, the system is going to be fair for everyone. I am delighted. I am halfway through my treatment and I am doing fine.

"It means more lives can be saved."

Both women decided to go public last December when their local primary care trusts (PCTs) told them they could not have the £30,000 treatment because it was not licensed for widespread use in the UK.

The trusts said they also had to ensure patient safety despite the drug's proven success in the US and the acknowledgement it was likely to be given the go-ahead in UK and Europe in 2006.

Both women said the cost was also a factor and without the treatment they had less chance of survival.

All 15 PCTs in Sussex and Surrey and the cancer networks covering both counties have agreed to change their policy towards prescribing the drug and give it to exceptional cases.