Man, 48, living with 30kg lump on abdomen fears it's 'killing' him
A 48-year-old man living with a 30kg lump on his body, which he cannot get removed, has told ITV News Central the ordeal is "killing him".
Alan Bromyard, from Long Eaton in Derbyshire, first developed health problems after undergoing weight loss surgery at the advice of doctors in 2020.
He now has a chronic condition called Lymphoedema which causes swelling in the body's tissues and has been living with the lump for two years.
The condition is caused by your lymphatic system not working properly, which is the system that fights infection and removes fluid.
Mr Bromyard told ITV News Central: "From that two years to now it's been growing and growing, it's started off as a little orange and is now nearly 30 kilograms".
Surgery
The NHS won't fund his surgery to remove it because they say the surgery is considered cosmetic.
Mr Bromyard has been rejected twice by the Derby and Derbyshire integrated Care Board who have said an "exceptional" reason is needed to fund the surgery.
He said: "I need to get someone in the NHS to do something.
"I have no life at the moment. I've gone from running my small pedigree herd of cattle to having to get rid of them because I can't work them.
"I've had two stays in hospital with sepsis. I nearly died twice. Second time I was on the floor for nine hours. I don't want there to be a third time."
He also used to enjoy fishing alongside his role as a self employed farmer but is now unable to work.
Alan contracted sepsis in August 2023 and was in hospital for two weeks, with six days in intensive care.
The fire brigade had to get him out of an upstairs room to take him to hospital and he was lifted out of his home with a hoist.
"I have no life, my life is from the bed, to the kitchen and back, that's it."
Because of his lump, he now spends all of his time in one room and sleeps downstairs.
Alan Bromyard told ITV News Central about the impact the lump has had on his life.
He said: "Everyone that's seen me, the GP, surgeon, dietician, physio and lymphoedema clinic all say it needs cutting off."
His surgeon is supporting the need for surgery, in a process known as a apronectomy which is a surgical procedure to remove skin from the lower abdomen.
He has started a GofundMe page to help raise the money needed for the surgery and has raised £1,000 so far but still needs around £2,500.
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His local MP Adam Thompson has supported his cause writing to the NHS about his ordeal.
A spokesperson for NHS Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Board said: "We cannot comment on individual cases.
"Some treatments are not normally available on the NHS and in these circumstances people are able to request individual funding requests where a service, intervention or treatment falls outside of existing service provision.
"The application for funding is made by the patient's clinician who is required to demonstrate that the circumstances are exceptional.
"This decision-making process ensures that each request is considered in a fair and transparent way, with decisions based on the best available evidence and in accordance with our individual funding request policy."
Mr Bromyard said he is now planning a third appeal with hopes that his application will be accepted.
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