Charity's advice anger.

Cancer charities have reacted angrily to a health watchdog recommendation to halt the use of a drug that offers relief from anaemia.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published its final draft recommendations today on the use of erythropoietin (EPO) for those becoming anaemic because of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. It believes the clinical effects of EPO have not been adequately researched and says the drug is not cost-effective.

EPO is used widely in the US and Europe, where it is regarded as a standard therapy for dealing with cancer-related anaemia, which leaves people feeling weak and tired.

In the UK, just 1% of cancer patients are given EPO, with around a quarter of patients treated for anaemia with blood transfusions.

Cancer charities called the NICE decision ( which relates to anaemia caused by cancer treatment and by the cancer itself ( disappointing.

A spokeswoman for the ovarian cancer charity Ovacome said: "Our members who have had the advantage of receiving EPO report a good quality of life while having chemotherapy.

"We are very disappointed on our patients' behalf by NICE's recommendation."

The International Myeloma Foundation UK (IMF) said it was considering an appeal and expressed concern about a possible increase in the need for transfusions.