Family of Hemel Hempstead Town footballer appeal for help to save his life

The family of a Hemel Hempstead Town footballer, with a rare bone cancer, is appealing for the public's help to raise money for life-saving treatment for the 25-year-old.

Spencer McCall has been given a terminal prognosis after grueling chemotherapy for Ewing Sarcoma which has now spread to his lungs.

His family looked into other countries treatments and Germany and Spain have agreed to treatment that is not available for Spencer in the UK. The total cost of the treatment is £90K and this is without travel and accommodation costs.

In February 2019, the 25-year-old was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare bone cancer, and the tumour was 7cm in size.

He went through 14 cycles of chemotherapy between and underwent three major surgeries in a bid to rid the disease, in September 2019, he was given the all clear.

Spencer said: "Two weeks after my 25th birthday, after striving to getting my life back on track, my life came crashing down for a second time.

"In February 2020, a routine scan showed that my cancer had spread to my lungs and there were multiple tumours in both lungs.

"Despite the news, I was given confidence by my oncology team who got me started with chemotherapy again, this time the drugs would be targeting the lungs.

"Unfortunately after five extremely demanding cycles including two different chemotherapy drugs, scans had confirmed that my disease is still progressing aggressively.

"In June, I was given the heartbreaking news that the traditional chemotherapy protocol wasn't stabilising my disease.

"In the UK there is no alternative treatments that can be offered to me other than chemotherapy and continuing with this offers a poor outlook and unfortunately disease free status would not be achieved."

After speaking with experts in the UK, including Spencer's oncologist, they recommended specialists within this field, who offer innovative treatments available abroad that are not yet available in the UK.

Specialists outside the UK have come together and formed an individualised treatment plan for him that would offer him a better outcome.

Spencer added: "The NHS have been absolutely amazing in many ways and will continue to support me and my decision to seek alternative therapies abroad.

"Even with the most recent appointment with my oncologist, she was moving treatments and scans here in the UK around to accommodate the European team.

"The promising new treatment plan includes the innovative radiotherapy, Cyberknife and Immunotherapy in two German Clinics and Dendritic Cell Therapy in Spain.

"We have been advised by our new medical team that undertaking these new treatments in a particular order and in conjunction with each other that they enhance the success rate and increase my chance of battling my disease.

"We have also been advised to begin a regime of non-toxic supplements and medications which we've began already. This is already amounting to a cost of £1,500 per month.

"The costs so far include approx £29k Cyberknife, £22k for Immunotherapy, £28k for Dendritic Cell Therapy in addition to the £1,500 per month supplement plan for the foreseeable future.

"This has undoubtedly been a very tough and challenging period of my life over the last two years.

"Having done everything that has been thrown at me by my doctors I was looking forward to getting my life back on track!

"I couldn't wait to get back to playing football. My spirit remains high and I am not willing to lie down and accept defeat.

"I appreciate that not everyone is in a position to donate, particularly with challenging financial times but there may be other ways you can help me, for example sharing my story may attract the attention of any further help that can be offered. Thank you to everyone in advance."

Sarah Fox, Spencer's Auntie, said: "Spencer is a fighter and an inspiration to us all.

"He has been shown so much kindness already and if love was a cure he would be rid of this terrible disease.

"From me and all of his family, we would like to thank everyone for their support."

Spencer is hoping to travel to Germany at the end of the month.

To make a donation visit: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/spencer-mccall.