My name is Peter, I am urgently in need of funds to undergo an operation to remove a malignant deposit of melanoma in my lung.

I was born and educated in England, and going to Brighton to do a Hotel Management HND. After working for several years in London in the Hotel Industry I married and had my first child, my daughter Sophie. A couple of years later, I was offered a post in Mauritius, where my wife comes from. As the hotel industry involves long an irregular hours, we moved to Mauritius, so that my wife could be closer to her family. We remained in Mauritius, where we had two more boys Nicholas and Simon, and recently our first grand daughter.

In 2015, my dermatologist discovered two pigmented legions on my back and shoulder. She advised surgery to remove. The resulting pathology reports, revealed one site had a superficial spreading melanoma and the other, was nodular malignant melanoma. As a result, another plastic surgeon carried out a much wider excision of the areas affected. Following which no residual melanoma were found.

I continued to have regular checkups with my dermatologist, until my CT scan of July 2020 revealed a suspicious nodule, on my right lung lobe. The resulting biopsy was carried out in early September and confirmed our worst fears, that the melanoma had spread. As genetic testing cannot be done in Mauritius, samples were sent to Nantes for further testing. The Diagnosis confirmed Stage IV cutaneous melanoma - BRAF wild type. As there was no BRAF gene mutation, no targeted therapy was available. I was also advised, that without treatment, my life expectancy would be, 6 to 9 months.

My Oncologist, immediately put me on a course of Chemotherapy, to try and stop the spread. Whilst looking for other possible treatment.

Fortunately, we were able to make contact with Royal Marsden, Skin and Melanoma unit. Unfortunately though, this came in the middle of the Covid pandemic, resulting in Mauritius closing it's frontiers, as it was Covid free at the time. Luckily a direct repatriation flight to London, became available in late November 2020. We took that flight straight away.

Following further clinical reviews, scans and tests etc I started a course of Immunotherapy in December. I have now gone through six months of treatment, and the results are fantastic. My latest PET scan shows that the existing nodule has remained unchanged but more importantly nothing new has appeared.

The only downside is that due to the urgency of my treatment and my having lived in Mauritius for the past 35 years, I am not eligible for NHS treatment and I have been treated as a Private Patient since my arrival. Whilst I had a Medical Insurance in Mauritius, the ceiling of the cover has now been reached and I am paying my own way, with help from friends and family.

I now have one last hurdle to jump. Before giving me the All Clear, to return home. My Doctor wants me to undergo an Operation, to remove the nodule in my lung, in order to reduce the risk of the melanoma growing or spreading. I have just been to see the Consultant Thoracic Surgeon at the Royal Brompton Hospital. This will involve micro surgery and should be pretty straight forward but will involve a night in ICU and a few more days in hospital. The estimated cost of this operation and hospital stay, is in the region of 25,000 pounds. ( I am waiting for quotes).

Unfortunately, I am now Out of Funds and can no longer afford this Operation without help. Hence my appeal for assistance from family, friends and benefactors alike. So I can have the operation done and return home to my loved ones.

Thank You so much for your help.

Peter