WHEN Bristol musician Martin Moss discovered a cancer treatment that could add years to his life he thought his prayers had been answered.

Then came the devastating blow that the local NHS would not fund the therapy.

But in an incredible gesture, friends from the music community have vowed to do all they can to raise the £20,000 it will cost for the 58-year-old to undergo the treatment privately.

Mr Moss, entertainments manager and regular performer at the Prom, was diagnosed with bowel cancer last September.

The disease had already spread to his liver and while the tumours in his bowel were successfully removed, there was too much cancer in his liver to operate.

He had six months of chemotherapy at his Horfield home with nurses from Healthcare at Home, funded by the NHS.

While the initial treatment shrank the tumours, they are expected to return and could become resistant to conventional chemotherapy treatments.

Mr Moss's partner Chrissie Hammonds found out about a treatment called selective internal radiation (SIRT), which involves tiny radioactive beads being injected into the liver's blood supply so they can target the cancer more directly.

A major trial into the use of the drug is currently being carried out by Oxford University.

Mr Moss is eligible for the treatment but because he has already had chemotherapy, he cannot be accepted onto the trial. His oncologist in Bristol and experts behind the Oxford research believe he could benefit from the treatment and are prepared to carry it out as a privately funded case.

NHS Bristol turned the treatment down because the National Institute of Clinical Health and Excellence (NICE), which makes decisions on the availability of drugs, have not approved it.

The health advisers have found that the SIRT radiation therapy is safe and are reviewing the guidelines but the people in charge of the pursestrings locally will not fund it because it is currently classed as "experimental".

The coalition Government has pledged to set up a cancer drugs fund next April to ensure patients can access the drugs their doctors believe they need and will reform the National Institute of Clinical Health and Excellence to help make treatments available.

But while the drugs might be available for Mr Moss on the NHS next year, health experts have warned that the cancer may return within months.

Mr Moss said: "They said they couldn't fund the SIRT because it is an experimental treatment even though it has been used on 20,000 people worldwide, in Australia, the States and parts of Europe.

"It is also available to people with private medical insurance."

Mr Moss and Ms Hammonds, 58, have been performing at the Prom in Gloucester Road since the 80s with several bands and have become almost permanent fixtures.

He has not been able to play much since the treatment for cancer as it sapped him of energy, but has still been helping out and making occasional appearances at open mic nights.

Musicians have offered tracks for a compilation CD and will perform gigs at the Prom in exchange for donations to the treatment fund.

Ms Hammonds, a midwife, said: "Everyone has been asking for months if we need money for the treatment and are all willing to do benefit gigs.

"A lot of people have said that Martin has given so much to the Bristol music community over the years and it is their turn to give something back."

Mr Moss said: "We haven't actually asked anybody, the musicians have just said don't ask, just tell us when it is happening. It is very humbling."

NHS Bristol turned the SIRT treatment down when it was referred to its exceptional funding panel and again at appeal.

An NHS Bristol spokeswoman said: "The Department of Health has yet to issue advice to the NHS on changes to the arrangements for the funding for cancer treatment that are not currently subject to NICE guidance.

"Subject to any future changes in the national position, NHS Bristol will continue to take funding decisions based on established evidence to ensure that resources are used in the most effective way in securing the best outcomes for Bristol patients."