LUNG cancer is Britain's biggest cancer killer, with more than 38,000 patients diagnosed each year.

Tarceva is the first new drug to be recommended in non-small cell lung cancer treatment for seven years.

It is taken orally and gives patients treatment without the side effects of intravenous chemotherapy.

In a study, Tarceva has been proven to increase patient survival by 42% after one year compared to supportive care.

Patients take one tablet a day at home, freeing up hospital resources and reducing the chance of hospital-acquired infections.