The family of a man from Lancashire who was diagnosed with cancer on his birthday are appealing for funding for 'miracle treatment'.

Tony Brown, 63, went to the opticians after he noticed a small red spot on his eye, when 'things escalated very quickly'.

Now living in Morecambe, Tony worked for Blackburn local authority for 26 years, and worked for Lancashire County Council before that for six years. 

Within days after Tony going to the opticians, he was told he had an extremely rare and aggressive cancer, and was diagnosed with ocular melanoma on March 4, his birthday.

Ocular melanoma - melanoma in or around the eye - is a type of cancer that develops in the cells that produce pigment. 

Tony's family, including daughter Suzie Brown, are now fundraising for a 'miracle treatment' that is believed to have an excellent success rate for Tony's cancer.

Suzie said: "The day after being told he had cancer, my dad had to have his right eye removed and the tumour was taken out.

"He was then due to have checks on his liver every six months as there is a risk that cancer cells can spread there from the eye region. The average for this spread to happen is usually at least a couple of years after diagnosis. 

"Unfortunately in my dad's very first MRI scan last week, small tumours were identified in his liver. This was devastating.

"We were given the absolutely earth-shattering news that without treatment he has months to live. Our family were broken by this news."

The miracle treatment that is available is called 'Chemosaturation', and is known for transforming patients' lives.

Chemosaturation therapy is a new treatment that delivers a high dose of an anti-cancer drug directly into the liver.

Suzie added: "It truly is a miracle treatment for this rare cancer.

"Unfortunately the NHS does not fund it, and it is only available privately. As this cancer is so rare, there hasn't been much research or funding on it, so there are very limited options for patients who have it.

"As a normal working family on average salaries, we now have to raise a lot of money in a very short time for this treatment to give him some more precious time with us.

"We are a close-knit family and me and my brother simply cannot imagine life without our precious dad in it.

"Dad is our rugby pal, we are lifelong league fans and have travelled all over watching games. He is my spider catcher, and probably the only person who can tell me to shut up and it actually works!

"This nightmare began a week after he made the plans to resign and retire in July, after working nonstop for the local authority for 40 years.

"He has plans, including spending precious time with his six-year-old granddaughter. He cares for my brother who lives with him. He has a life to lead together with his wife and us, and he deserves to receive the very best treatment available."

A total of £40,000 is needed for each treatment session, with three or four needed for patients on average, creating a total fundraising target of £120,000.

Suzie and her family believe they can find funds for Tony's initial treatment, but 'will be doing all they can' to raise money to pay for the rest of the course.

351 supporters have currently raised £9,825 for Tony, and further donations can be made on Tony's JustGiving page 'Weʼre raising £120,000 to help fund our Dad’s cancer treatment'.