A SOMERSET mother has launched a desperate appeal to obtain funding for a drug for her cancer-stricken son.

Joanne Sykes, from Shepton Mallet, has called on members of the public to help fund her son Stephen's treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma.

Stephen Sykes, a trombone player and a conductor, found out he had the blood cancer in February last year.

After various attempts at different chemotherapy drugs, medics have told the 26-year-old that he needs to start a treatment of immunotherapy followed by a stem cell transplant.

But the treatment recommended by his doctors at Royal United Hospital in Bath is not currently available on the NHS.

Earlier this month, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) called for Bristol-Myers Squibb, who manufacture nivolumab (Opdivo), to provide more information on its drug's effectiveness for treating classical Hodgkin lymphoma before it makes a decision on whether to routinely approve the drug for NHS use in England.

But Mr Sykes' medics have recommended that he start the treatment in the next two to three weeks.

It is possible for clinicians to submit an Individual Funding Request for their patients to receive cancer treatments which have not been appraised by NICE or are not currently available via the Cancer Drugs Fund.

But Mrs Sykes, a 46-year-old school music teacher, said she had not been made aware of the individual funding scheme adding that her son needed to start treatment urgently.

"Stephen has not got time to wait," she told the Press Association.

"His cancer is very aggressive and he needs to start treatment right away."

It is hoped that Mr Sykes, who comes from a musical family, can raise £90,000 to fund 12 months of the treatment.

Mrs Sykes has set up a GoFundMe page asking for help from the public.

"Consultants have told us that we will need to raise the funds required to purchase the treatment that Stephen needs to give him the real prospect of becoming well again," Mrs Sykes wrote on the page.

"Stephen just wants to get back to normal life - planning his future with Lucy, working, playing his trombone and his guitar, conducting and walking his dog Bruno."

Mr Sykes' father Steve is a tuba player and a conductor, his brother Carlton is a music teacher and his girlfriend Lucy Langan, 21, is studying music at Bath Spa.

He played at Glastonbury Festival last year where he conducted a local brass band. He has also performed at the Royal Albert Hall alongside Sting.

Mrs Sykes added: "As a musician Stephen has been fortunate to be able to work with some amazing people and at venues that he thought he could only dream about.

"Whilst going through gruelling treatment last summer, Stephen conducted on the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival. Even though at the time he could barely eat anything, he was determined to fulfil his commitment and dream."

So far more than £24,000 has been raised through the GoFundMe page.

Mrs Sykes added: "We have been absolutely amazed - we have been really emotional looking at all of the responses. There is a lot of good out there."

After the drug treatment Mr Sykes will need a stem cell treatment. His family have also launched a campaign calling for people to sign up to become stem cell donors.

Mrs Sykes added: "Stephen, once his cancer is under control and reduced, will need a stem cell transplant.

"In February 2017 we launched the #SwabforSykes appeal to raise awareness and increase the number of donors on the stem cell registers - as of March 23 we have managed through our network of supporters and volunteers to increase the register by over 1,100 donors.

"This is something we hope to continue to do to help not only Stephen but anyone else that is seeking a donor."

Lisa Nugent, head of donor recruitment at the blood cancer charity DKMS, said: "Only one in three people with a blood cancer in the UK and in need of a lifesaving blood stem cell transplant will be lucky enough to find a suitable match within their own family.

"Finding a match from a genetically similar person can offer the best treatment, a second chance of life and that's why DKMS is fully supporting Stephen's search.

"So for those not already registered we would urge anyone between 17-55 years old and in general good health to become a potential lifesaver today by visiting www.dkms.org.uk."

Mrs Sykes' appeal can be found at www.gofundme.com/skxua-save-stephen