A teacher diagnosed with terminal bowel cancer has said she was extremely disappointed the health watchdog turned down a “life-saving” drug for use on the NHS.

Barbara Moss said she was “living proof” Avastin (bevacizumab) works.

In November 2006, the 55-year-old was given just three months to live after doctors discovered her advanced bowel cancer had spread to her liver.

After two treatments of Avastin, her grapefruit-sized tumour shrank to half its size and she was operated on by surgeons. She has been in remission for 18 months.

Speaking from Brittany, France, where she is holidaying with her husband Mark, 48, Mrs Moss said the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) had put a “value on life” after it said the price was too high for the extra benefit it gives patients.

Mrs Moss, from Worcester, said: “To say that I am disappointed is an understatement. I am still here – alive. I am in France having a wonderful time with my husband. I am living proof that Avastin works.

“I have seen people dying who were less ill than I was. They could have been alive if they had it. Nice has put a value on life.

“It seems immoral to me that, as a result of negative Nice decisions like this one, people’s choice of living or dying depends on whether they can afford a drug because it isn’t available to them on the NHS.”

Mrs Moss, who was an English and French teacher for 25 years and worked at both Royal Grammar School and Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College in Worcester, was diagnosed in November 2006.

“I have now been in remission for 18 months and I feel absolutely fantastic. They did say that the chances are that it will come back because the cancer was so aggressive. Because I had the operation to remove it and because of the Avastin, I am alive today.”