A MOTHER of two who successfully campaigned for a cancer-beating drug to be made available on the NHS has died before she had the chance to take it.

Michelle Hilton, 37, died in her sleep on Sunday morning at her home in Beechwood Drive, Blackburn, just weeks after doctors received a supply of Herceptin for her.

And her proud parents today said Michelle's fight for the drug to be recognised meant others would live on in her memory.

She had battled breast cancer for six and a half years and exhausted all other treatments.

In August she appealed through the Lancashire Evening Telegraph after becoming frustrated during an 18-month wait for the NHS to decide whether to fund her 'last hope'.

Herceptin targets an overactive gene -- HER2 -- associated with cancer growth for one in five women. Tests showed Michelle was in that 20 per cent.

Research proved it slowed the growth and spread of tumours. An American study found that patients given Herceptin in addition to chemotherapy had a 10 per cent better chance of survival.

But it was unavailable at Manchester's Christie Hospital or from the East Lancashire Health Authority.

This was because the government was yet to add it to the NHS as it was classed as still being in a trial stage even though it had been passed safe for use in Britain in 1999.

If Michelle had lived in Birmingham or Merseyside she would have received the drug as the government was piloting it there.

But after the article, Christie Hospital bosses decided to provide the drug without waiting for government ratification. They said it was inappropriate that cancer centres 15 miles apart operated differently.

So Michelle, her husband Barrie and children Peri, 14, and Bethany, 11 had hope again.

Michelle told the Evening Telegraph she hoped the drug would give her another 12 months. But she died after two doses of chemotherapy at Christie earlier this month left her too weak. Two weeks ago they told her there was nothing more they could do.

Michelle asked to be allowed home to die in the company of her husband and children.

Her family paid tribute to Michelle's bravery after her six and half year battle against cancer.

Michelle's parents, Jean and Terry O'Rourke, of Pinewood Road, Blackburn, said she refused to be bitter when death was imminent. Instead, she was happy that others would get Herceptin without the delays and campaigns she had to fight, they said.

"We've been privileged to have her as a daughter. The way she dealt with it. She has been a special person and given so much love to everybody," said Jean. "I think she left an impression with everybody she knew.

"The chemotherapy left her very weak. They said the Herceptin was there for her but she was too weak to take it.

"They told her two weeks ago that there was nothing more they could do. They consultant was really upset because he had the drug ready.

"Michelle told us not to get upset. Then she asked if she could go home because she wanted to be with her children and family.

"Even in the last two weeks she kept her spirit up. She grounded Bethany, who went into her room at 8.20pm, when she should have been in bed at 8pm." Terry said: "She always had time for people and to put her own problems to one side and has been an inspiration to others.

"The treatment came too late for Michelle, but she strove to get publicity for it and because of that others now have it.

"She was happy that others would not have to go through what she did."

Her funeral takes place on Friday at St Francis C of E Church, Feniscowles, at 12.45.