SCOTS patients suffering from two forms of cancer will be the first to access two new drugs on the NHS.

The Scottish Medicines Consortium has approved Abraxane (paclitaxel) - the first new treatment for advanced pancreatic cancer in 20 years.

An estimated 770 new patients are diagnosed in Scotland each year and approximately 740 die from the disease, representing 4.7% of cancer deaths.

It is the fifth most common cancer killer in the UK with approximately 8,800 new cases diagnosed each year.

For people whose cancer has already spread to another part of their body, the average life expectancy can be only a few months.

Abraxane has been shown to extend life expectancy by two months when used with another drug, gemcitabine,

Patients in England can only access the treatment through the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF). In December, drug regulator NICE turned it down for NHS use.

Professor Jeff Evans, Professor of the Translational Cancer Research, University of Glasgow, said: "I welcome the Scottish Medicine Consortium decision to approve the prescribing of Abraxane in Scotland.

"Pancreatic cancer has extremely low survival rates as the majority of patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage.

"Abraxane has shown that it is able to increase survival for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer and now sufferers of the disease in Scotland will be able to use this treatment."

The Scottish Medicines Consortium also approved the use of Bosulif (bosutinib) for the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukaemia.

Patients in Wales and Northern Ireland have to prove 'exceptional circumstances' to even be considered.

In England, some eligible patients can access bosutinib via the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF), however NHS England has tightened restrictions on its use.

Around 60 people in Scotland were diagnosed with CML in 2012, the highest number since 2007.

CML usually develops very slowly, which is why it's described as a 'chronic' leukaemia.

David Ryner, Chairman of the CML Support Group said: "This decision is fantastic news for eligible patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia in Scotland. The addition of the Patient and Clinical Engagement (PACE) group by the Scottish Medicines Consortium means that patients and clinicians now have more of a voice in these decisions and that can only be a positive thing in improving access to medicines for Scottish patients."