AN INSPIRATIONAL campaigner who led the successful national fight for a cancer wonder drug has died.

Dorothy Griffiths, who has lived with terminal cancer for 11 years, was admitted to the Douglas Macmillan Hospice earlier this month.

The 63-year-old died peacefully on Friday, with her two devoted sons Robert and Ross Irving and daughter-in-law Alison by her side.

Dot, who lived in Hartshill, was first diagnosed with terminal breast cancer in 1999 and given just months to live.

She then heard about an experimental drug called Herceptin which had showed remarkable life prolonging results – but which was not licensed for use on the NHS.

She led her first national campaign and in 2001 won the right to be treated with Herceptin.

Four years later tests showed the drug could also help women in the early stages of cancer to remain free of tumours after treatment – but then the drug was only licensed to treat terminal patients.

Although she was already receiving Herceptin and was also on a gruelling course of chemotherapy, Dot organised fellow cancer patients into a campaign group, which took the fight for Herceptin to 10 Downing Street.

The pressure Dot and her fellow campaigners brought to bear on the Government and primary care trusts directly forced a change in the law and highlighted the issue of postcode prescribing.

More importantly, hundreds of women all over the country were able to receive the expensive treatment on the NHS – and are alive today because of the indomitable will of the mother-of-two and grandmother-of-five.

Ross, who lives in Cliff Vale, told The Sentinel the family were devastated by their loss.

The 32-year-old said: "We always knew this time would come, but that doesn't make it any easier. Words can't explain how much I'm going to miss her. It was very peaceful at the end. She fell into a deep sleep on Tuesday, which was what she wanted."

His brother Robert, aged 36, of Alsager's Bank, said: "We've had so many positive messages from people. It is helping us to get through some difficult times, knowing that so many people are grieving with us and thought so much of our mum."

Fellow campaigner and friend Lynne Burton, aged 60, from Clayton, said: "She was just an icon for all of us. So many people must owe their lives to Dot. She didn't have to fight for us, she was already on Herceptin and she did it all while receiving chemotherapy and being treated for her own cancer.

"Her family must be so proud of her.""

Tributes to Dot: Page 15