Despite patients being told they will still have access to Tarceva in North East England, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) has issued final guidance against its use in England and Wales.

Deanne Jenkyns, whose husband, Jimmy, has been taking the drug for more than year, described the decision as "a death sentence" for sufferers.

The 40-year-old, from Bainbridge Avenue, South Shields, believes it all boils down to cost.

She has been campaigning to end the postcode lottery of the drug, which is available in Scotland and parts of Europe, since her husband, 54, was diagnosed with cancer in 2006.

They paid for the drug privately at first, at a cost of £1,700 a month.

"This is like sending people to their death because many just can't afford to pay for this drug," she said. "People need this drug now."

The North East and Cumbria Cancer Drug Approvals Group agreed in July that Tarceva could be used when a patient has stopped responding to initial treatment for non-small cell lung cancer.

Health chiefs today assured patients this would remain the case in the region until the group holds its own review in July.

Steve Williamson, consultant pharmacist in cancer services for Northumbria Healthcare Foundation Trust and North of England Cancer Network, said: "We would like to reassure patients in North East England who are currently receiving Tarceva that they will continue to have this treatment.

"Consultant oncologists who see new lung cancer patients, and consider they will gain a clinical benefit from Tarceva, can also continue to prescribe the drug until the outcome of the cancer drug approvals group meeting in July."

Nice concluded that Tarceva could not be considered a cost-effective use of NHS resources.

Drug manufacturer Roche said it will appeal against the decision, which could take nine months, and cancer charities have expressed their disappointment at the move.

Ciaran Devane, chief executive of Macmillan Cancer Support, said: "Lung cancer is a devastating disease with few treatment options in its advanced stage.

"Tarceva provides another option and can give some patients extra time, which can be extremely valuable to patients and their families."