A 'loveable' dad who had a lingering tickly cough after coming home from a trip to Greece has been told he has just months left to live, the Liverpool Echo reports. Martin Hughes, 37 from Rainhill came back from a holiday in Greece in November 2022 and struggled to get rid of an annoying tickly cough.
Just before Christmas, he told his friend, Richard Maxwell, how he was going to book an appointment with his doctor as the cough had still not gone away. Around one month later Martin's doctors informed him he had throat cancer but said 'not to worry' as most forms of the condition are easily treated.
However after further tests, Martin was diagnosed with a rare cancer of the throat known as small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma which had started in his bowel and spread to the throat. Richard who has been friends with Martin since they were three-years-old told the ECHO: "They have told him it's going to be months he has left to live.
"He's not in palliative care or anything, he is at home and fine in himself. Martin is fighting for his life with all the stubbornness and enthusiasm he has.
"He's a stubborn b*****d and this won't beat him. I do think he's putting on a brave face for everybody at the moment."
The plasterer who is a huge Everton fan has now started chemotherapy sessions. He was told by doctors immunotherapy may help prolong his life but he does not meet the criteria for this to be administered on the NHS.
Richard, who lives in St Helens explained: "Because the cancer spread from his bowel and straight to his throat, missing out his lungs he doesn't fit the criteria to have it [immunotherapy] on the NHS. He doesn't tick a box.
"He is using oxygen tanks, and other treatments, this cost is currently approximately £6,500 every three weeks, this barely being met by Martin and his family. This cost will not stop, it will only increase as the weeks go on."
Martin's friends have now set up a GoFundMe page with the goal of raising £7,000 to help pay for some of his treatment. Richard along with friends Roberto Bromilow, Michael Wilson, Daniel Mather and Craig Witton will be completing a bike ride from Goodison Park to Old Trafford on April 8 in the hope of raising money towards the GoFundMe.
Richard said: "Being faced with this battle, financial implications are the last thing he should be worrying about. Times are hard financially for everyone and we appreciate that, but if anyone could spare anything to help save the life of one of the kindest, most loveable lads you would ever meet, it would be appreciated by everyone who has ever had the privilege of meeting Martin."
There is also a fundraising night being organised for March 31 to raise donations. To donate to Martin's GoFundMe page, click here.
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