A DAD-OF-THREE with terminal cancer says it would "mean the world" if he could raise enough money to undergo pioneering treatment overseas.

Derek Allen, who has multiple myeloma, could have just months left to live after exhausting all the treatment available to him on the NHS.

Now, loved ones hope to raise about £300,000 to send him overseas for CAR-T therapy which reprogrammes the patient’s own immune system cells to target their cancer.

Mr Allen, 41, said: “I've tried to be strong for two years but it is getting harder to put a brave face on. To get the chance of this treatment would mean the world, to have hope to improve my prognosis or even beat it would mean everything to me and my family.”

The Northern Echo:

In early 2019, after going to the doctor’s with aching ribs, Mr Allen was sent for an x-ray then an emergency CT scan.

He was given the devastating news that he had multiple myeloma which was treatable but could not be cured, and told people with a similar diagnosis live an average of seven years.

But in the last two years the former construction site supervisor has had four sets of chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant, which have all been unsuccessful.

The Northern Echo:

Mr Allen, originally from Murton and now loving in Easington Lane, said: “I hadn’t heard of it at the time, I was 39-years-old and I found out it was more prevalent in the over 60s.

“I felt my world crash around me, the rug was pulled from under my feet. All my dreams and ambitions went out the window.

“I had the hard issue of taking the seven years average prognosis, then I got two years before being told I might only have a couple of months.

"We’ve tried to get me into remission, we always think it is going well then go for scans and the cancer remains – it seems to be taking off doing what it wants.

“I won’t take it away from the NHS, it's provided a great service but we’ve come to the end of the line, there is no treatment to offer me.”

The Northern Echo:

The NHS does use CAR-T in the UK but it is only available for multiple myeloma patients as clinical trials, and Mr Allen does not meet the criteria.

But Mr Allen and wife Catherine have contacted clinics in Israel and America which may be able to offer him CAR-T treatment, once medics have examined his medical records.

An online Go Fund Me page, started by neighbour Jill Donnison, has raised £14,505 so far.

Mr Allen, who is dad to Morgan, 23, James, 21, Grace, 15, and grandad to three-year-old Kaidyn, said: “I’m not willing to sit back and roll over to this disease.

“About six weeks ago I was told there was no further treatment, talking about having months left was hard to take when I feel reasonably well.

“I’m just hoping to prove them wrong.

“When the consultant says ‘go and live your life’ but because of coronavirus you cannot jump on a plane for a quick family holiday it’s pretty rubbish, Catherine had to stop working in a care home to care for me and we’ve just tried to enjoy walking the dogs when I could get out.

“Unfortunately it comes down to money, and time, now. I’m just a quiet guy, I’ve always worked hard to better things for the family thinking in a few years we’d ease off work and enjoy more time together. My own pride stopped me fundraising but a friend did it after the latest prognosis and I’m just overwhelmed by the support.”