A Glasgow hairdresser who developed lung cancer at 29 and has never smoked has welcomed the approval of a “breakthrough” drug in Scotland ahead of the rest of the UK.

The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has recommended the immunotherapy drug Opdivo (Nivolumab) for patients with the most common, advanced form of the disease.

Michelle Hanlon, from Springboig, was diagnosed with aquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in December and has undergone chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

However since she started taking Nivolumab there has been a significant reduction in the size of tumours in her lung and spine and she has had no side-effects, allowing her to return to work at her dad’s salon, Hair by Hanlon, on Great Western Road.

She said: “I know that most people are shocked because I’ve never smoked but the shock for me was how young I am.

“I didn’t have any of the typical symptoms like a cough and I didn’t feel unwell. The only thing I had was a really sore lower back.

“The drug has been incredible. I have no side effects and everything seems to be reducing.

“When I was on chemo there was a good five days where I couldn’t do anything.

“I’m now back working two days a week.

“I’m one of those people who just thinks, ‘right let’s just get on with it. I want to be positive about it.

“It’s great that other patients will now get access to this drug.”

Scotland’s incidence rates of lung cancer are amongst the highest in the world.

It is the biggest cancer killer in the country, accounting for one-quarter of all cancer deaths in 2014.

Nivolumab is the first new treatment of its kind in 20 years and works by harnessing the ability of the immune system to fight the cancer.

Officials said it can extend the typical eight-month life expectancy by three months.

Dr Brian Clark, Consultant Clinical Oncologist at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer said: “Immunotherapy is one of the most important advances in lung cancer treatment in the last decade.

“The SMC’s decision is extremely welcome news and gives many Scottish patients hope to benefit from this treatment on the NHS.”

The assessment of nivolumab by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is currently ongoing, meaning that the treatment remains unavailable for patients living in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

It comes as former Emmerdale star Leah Bracknell thanked fans for raising £50,000 for the actress to undergo “cutting edge” treatment for lung cancer.

Leah, 52, who played Zoe Tate in the ITV soap for 16 years until 2005, was only diagnosed five weeks ago.

A donations page has hit its £50,000 target.

Scottish patients will also be the first in the UK to access a new treatment for advanced form of thyroid cancer.

The Scottish Medicines Consortium approved Lenvima (lenvatinib) for patients with radioactive iodine refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (RAI-R DTC) .