Matthew's Eye Cancer Fight
Donation protected
Matthew Parsons, a father of three was diagnosed with choroidal melanoma (Eye Cancer) in November 2012. This deadly and incurable form of cancer has now spread to his liver and we need your help to raise funds for Matthew. Unfortunately standard chemotherapy has no effect on this rare form of cancer however, the funds raised will help Matthew gain access to treatment which is not available to NHS patients. It will also help with costs associated with his endless appointments at Southampton University Hospital.
Please support Matthew in his fight with this disease, your donations will help him gain access to new treatments available allowing him to be a father, husband, son and brother, creating many more memories with his family in years to come.
Please help us to raise £30,000 for Matthew to receive another PHP treatment. We are grateful for all your donations and support, no matter how small.
Matthew's story so far....
Matthew Parsons, a father of three was diagnosed with choroidal melanoma in November 2012, after a routine eye examination. He was quickly referred to a specialised eye cancer centre in Liverpool which confirmed the diagnosis from a biopsy. A few weeks later he received the life changing news that his tumour was a very aggressive form of cancer that was likely to spread to other parts of his body, in particular his liver. In early 2013 Matthew received Proton Beam Therapy (PBT) to kill the tumour in his eye, unfortunately he has been left with a permanent vision impairment that causes constant double vision and no peripheral vision in his right eye.
After regular 6 monthly scans of his liver, in April 2014 Matthew was told that the cancer had spread to his liver. After many funding issues in May 2014 Matthew managed to gain access to a new treatment available in Southampton University hospital. PHP (Percutaneous Hepatic Perfusion) from Delcath also known as Chemostauration was performed firstly in May 2014 and then also in July 2014. This treatment is liver-directed high dose chemotherapy which is currently only used for research purposes and has yet to be approved by NICE. Scans taken at the end of 2014 have showed that this treatment is working!
Matthew then benefited from the systematic therapy Ipilimumab (IPI) (also known as Yervoy) which may also help to prolong his life. As we approach 2015 Matthew is currently undergoing treatment known as Anti-PD-1 (or Pembrolizumbab). This is courtesy of the Early Access Program, which basically means that the drug company is giving it away for free before it gets approval.
Next steps….
Matthew is raising money for another liver directed treatment which appears to be the most effective form of treatment that may help to prolong his life.
About Matthew Parsons Eye Cancer Fight
This fund has been set up by Matthew's family whose primary objective is to raise funds for any necessary treatment Matthew may require in his fight against Ocular Melanoma.
In the tragic event that Matthew looses his battle with this disease, any remaining funds shall be equally divided and given to OcuMel UK and contribute towards Matthew's funeral costs.
About Ocular Melanoma (OM)
Ocular Melanoma is a very rare incurable form of cancer of the eye that can spread (metastasise) to other organs, typically the liver.
Approximately 50% of patients will develop metastatic disease of the original diagnosis, and once the liver is involved the cancer is currently incurable. However, if the spread is found early enough there are localised treatments that can potentially extend life expectancy or help improve quality of life for those affected.
The most common place for ocular melanoma to spread is into the liver. Other common sites of metastases include the lungs, bone and the brain, although tumours can be anywhere in the body as they are spread via the blood stream. Unfortunately standard chemotherapy has shown to have no effect in treating metastatic cancer however, new innovative treatments that work by enhancing the patient’s own immune system have given OM patients some hope. There are also new treatments available for metastatic liver cancer, however as with all treatments for OM none of these are routinely available on the NHS and funding continues to be an huge problem for patients.
For more information please visit OcuMel UK http://www.ocumeluk.org/
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/health/i-diagnosed-incurable-cancer-after-3659445
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/i-cant-swim-dont-bike-7744814
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/health/cancer-sufferer-matthew-parsons-anguish-7999255
Please support Matthew in his fight with this disease, your donations will help him gain access to new treatments available allowing him to be a father, husband, son and brother, creating many more memories with his family in years to come.
Please help us to raise £30,000 for Matthew to receive another PHP treatment. We are grateful for all your donations and support, no matter how small.
Matthew's story so far....
Matthew Parsons, a father of three was diagnosed with choroidal melanoma in November 2012, after a routine eye examination. He was quickly referred to a specialised eye cancer centre in Liverpool which confirmed the diagnosis from a biopsy. A few weeks later he received the life changing news that his tumour was a very aggressive form of cancer that was likely to spread to other parts of his body, in particular his liver. In early 2013 Matthew received Proton Beam Therapy (PBT) to kill the tumour in his eye, unfortunately he has been left with a permanent vision impairment that causes constant double vision and no peripheral vision in his right eye.
After regular 6 monthly scans of his liver, in April 2014 Matthew was told that the cancer had spread to his liver. After many funding issues in May 2014 Matthew managed to gain access to a new treatment available in Southampton University hospital. PHP (Percutaneous Hepatic Perfusion) from Delcath also known as Chemostauration was performed firstly in May 2014 and then also in July 2014. This treatment is liver-directed high dose chemotherapy which is currently only used for research purposes and has yet to be approved by NICE. Scans taken at the end of 2014 have showed that this treatment is working!
Matthew then benefited from the systematic therapy Ipilimumab (IPI) (also known as Yervoy) which may also help to prolong his life. As we approach 2015 Matthew is currently undergoing treatment known as Anti-PD-1 (or Pembrolizumbab). This is courtesy of the Early Access Program, which basically means that the drug company is giving it away for free before it gets approval.
Next steps….
Matthew is raising money for another liver directed treatment which appears to be the most effective form of treatment that may help to prolong his life.
About Matthew Parsons Eye Cancer Fight
This fund has been set up by Matthew's family whose primary objective is to raise funds for any necessary treatment Matthew may require in his fight against Ocular Melanoma.
In the tragic event that Matthew looses his battle with this disease, any remaining funds shall be equally divided and given to OcuMel UK and contribute towards Matthew's funeral costs.
About Ocular Melanoma (OM)
Ocular Melanoma is a very rare incurable form of cancer of the eye that can spread (metastasise) to other organs, typically the liver.
Approximately 50% of patients will develop metastatic disease of the original diagnosis, and once the liver is involved the cancer is currently incurable. However, if the spread is found early enough there are localised treatments that can potentially extend life expectancy or help improve quality of life for those affected.
The most common place for ocular melanoma to spread is into the liver. Other common sites of metastases include the lungs, bone and the brain, although tumours can be anywhere in the body as they are spread via the blood stream. Unfortunately standard chemotherapy has shown to have no effect in treating metastatic cancer however, new innovative treatments that work by enhancing the patient’s own immune system have given OM patients some hope. There are also new treatments available for metastatic liver cancer, however as with all treatments for OM none of these are routinely available on the NHS and funding continues to be an huge problem for patients.
For more information please visit OcuMel UK http://www.ocumeluk.org/
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/health/i-diagnosed-incurable-cancer-after-3659445
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/i-cant-swim-dont-bike-7744814
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/health/cancer-sufferer-matthew-parsons-anguish-7999255
Organizer
Matthew Parsons
Organizer