Britain’s Got Talent star Allan Finnegan has been given 12 months to live after being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.
Baptist minister Allan reached the semi-finals of the show in 2020 after impressing judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and David Walliams with his stand-up comedy act.
Two years ago Allan noticed a problem with his eyesight and was told he had tumours in both his eyes after seeing a doctor.
One tumour was deemed not to be serious but the other was ocular melanoma, a rare form of cancer.
The comedian went on to have treatment but tests revealed he has a gene which meant the cancer was likely to return and spread to the liver.
Britain’s Got Talent star Allan Finnegan has been given 12 months to live after being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer (pictured on Britain’s Got Talent in 2020)
Two years ago Allan noticed a problem with his eyesight and was told he had tumours in both his eyes after seeing a doctor and he is attempting to raise £50,000 for specialist treatment (pictured on Britain’s Got Talent in 2020)
He told the Liverpool Echo: ‘I got diagnosed with eye cancer two years ago in December, which I’d never heard of. I was treated just after Christmas that year.
‘It went well but the biopsy looked at my genes – if you’ve got a certain type of gene, there’s quite a high chance of cancer returning, and when it does, it usually is in the liver.
‘Then in December last year, something showed up. I had to go back. It confirmed it had spread. I went to a consultant just after Christmas. He confirmed it was untreatable.’
Allan said the news was very tough for him and wife Joyce, and daughters Beccy and Rachael.
‘Watching my wife and kids cry, seeing other people cry, that makes me more emotional,’ he said.
Allan has taken time off from his comedy work and with his church, with the talent show contestant putting on just two gigs in the last two years.
He is now looking for fund specialist treatment for himself which isn’t available on the NHS.
Chemosaturation therapy, which ‘saturates’ the liver and targets tumours, costs £50,000, and Allan has set up a GoFundMe page to raise funds.
Baptist minister Allan reached the semi-finals of the show in 2020 (pictured) after impressing judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and David Walliams with his comedy
He wrote: ‘I’m fundraising for life saving cancer treatment not available on the NHS. I was diagnosed with ocular melanoma 2 years ago and was treated successfully but unfortunately it has now metastasised into my liver and is incurable.
‘I’ve been given 12 months but could extend this by receiving Chemosaturation Therapy, directly to the liver (Delcath).
‘This would give me some valuable time with my family, friends and new 3 month old grandson, Albie. The treatment costs £50,000 per dose and I’ve been advised that I’ll need at least 3.’
Allan had raised £40,725 at the time of writing.