David Swain's offer to meet the monthly £2,000 cost of Erbitux was refused, he said, because the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) ruled it was too expensive.

Now the father-of-four from Long Clawson, Leicestershire, is set to appeal. He said: "I could not fault the care I have had at the Leicester Royal Infirmary but they can't prescribe a drug without funding.

"The frustrating thing is that after two months they would know if it's to be any good or not. If it was not doing anything I would come off it."

Mr Swain has undergone chemotherapy and radiotherapy since being diagnosed with inoperable bowel cancer two and a half years ago.

But his condition has worsened, with the tumour pressing against his spine, and a doctor has recommended Erbitux.

But the Mr Swain has been told he must pay the full £10,000-a-month bill for his treatment if he wants the drug.

In a statement, Leicestershire County and Rutland NHS Primary Care Trust said: "We follow national guidelines which do not allow individuals to part-fund NHS care."