A SOUTHEND woman who had her eye removed after being diagnosed with cancer has launched a petition for the approval of potentially life-saving treatment.

Alison Benjamin, 52, of Northumberland Crescent, Southchurch, was diagnosed with a rare cancer - oculma melanoma - in December 2021.

In February last year, her eye was removed by doctors.

However, an ultrasound scan at the end of July noticed something on her liver, and Alison’s oncologist told her that if her next MRI scan picked something up she would be offered three types of immunotherapy, one of which was Tebentafusp.

Tebentafusp or Tebe is a treatment option for people with stage IV uveal melanoma cancer outside the eye.

It provides much safer side effects compared to other treatment but the National Institute for Health Care and Excellence has deemed the treatment too expensive.

It is currently not in use in England.

Now, Alison has launched a petition on change.org for NICE to approve the medicine, working with the charity Ocumel which supports eye cancer patients and of which she is a trustee.

She said: “Our chairman has been in dialogue with NICE about approving the use of Tebe.

“The petition on change.org has received more than 2,000 signatures and we hope to get more attention because trials show how effective Tebe can be.”

Initially, Alison began having problems with her eyesight in October 2021 and after visits to Specsavers and examinations, she was diagnosed with eye cancer in Southend Hospital.

Alison had her eye removed, a process known as enucleation, in February 2022.

She said: “Bearing in mind I’ve had two eyes for the past 52 years it’s taken a lot to get used to this.

“I’ve had adaptations made for me at work with my screen, I’ve only recently been allowed to drive again, it’s taken a lot of adjusting.

“I still have good days and bad days and have been to counselling but at the end of the day I’ve lost a part of my body.

“I didn’t want my eye removed but both treatment options left me with no choice.”

If the cancer metastasises, it can spread to the liver and Alison continued to have scans every six months.

Visit change.org and search Alison Benjamin to sign the petition.