Ron Walker describes himself as “the luckiest guy to ever walk the planet’’ after surviving skin cancer with the help of a $150,000 wonder drug — and now thousands of Australian sufferers will get the chance to share his luck.

After cancer invaded his brain, bones, lungs and heart, doctors described him as a “dead man walking’’ before he underwent experimental drug trials in the US.

After a tireless campaign by Mr Walker to ensure the drug Keytruda was available to all Australians, the Prime Minister will today announce it will be listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

This means that melanoma patients will pay $6.10 if they are concessional cardholders and $37.70 otherwise for a drug that would otherwise cost $150,000 a year.

It is also a personal victory for Mr Walker, a former Liberal Party treasurer, who has lobbied to get the drug approved for use in Australia and finally for the drug to be listed on the PBS to ensure cancer patients could afford it.

“They will have the enjoyment of living,’’ Mr Walker said. “There are 1500 people who die each year of melanoma in Australia and that compares with 1100 people a year who die in road accidents. It’s an epidemic in Australia.’’

For more details, go to: http://www.news.com.au/national/ron-walker-survived-skin-cancer-now-other-australians-can-get-the-wonder-drug-that-saved-him/story-e6frfkp9-1227418107368