A WOMAN has told of her disappointment after she was refused NHS funded IVF after her husband was twice diagnosed with a form of cancer.

Terry Conlon, 28, was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma in June 2012.

He and his wife, Ellis, 25, got married the following year but were told by staff from Colchester General Hospital the chemotherapy treatment could make him infertile.

Ellis, who lives with Terry in Alton Park Road, Clacton, said: "We were offered a chance to freeze some sperm so we were prepared if Terry was made infertile

"He went through everything and was given the all clear. He was then in remission.

"He went for a test to see if the treatment had made him infertile to see if we could try for a baby naturally.

"We never received a report back from that.

"We just carried on living and we just started to think about having a family but nothing happened for two years.

"We were never officially told Terry was infertile but there would be a high chance, especially as he underwent stem cell treatment at St Barts Hospital in London.

Terry, who works as a handyman in Frinton, was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma for the second time in September 2015 but was fortunately given the all clear again last March.

Last September, the couple were told they could access the frozen sperm sample but they wouldn't be offered NHS funded IVF.

It could cost in the region of £6,500 for privately funded basic IVF but it could cost more if there are medical complications.

Ellis, who is a kitchen assistant at a primary school in Clacton: "Terry's now in remission and we're just trying to pick up from where we were before,"

"But Colchester General Hospital didn't know how to help us or how to access the frozen sample.

"We just want to highlight the fact there no support in this area of aftercare for previous cancer patients who are trying to move forward in life after illness.

"There's no help, there's nothing in place or anyone we could talk to.

"We're now looking into the private route but we feel we've had no support for anything.

"We feel so disappointed and hurt by the decisions and have found it extremely hard to get any information and guidance."

There are specific guidelines for NHS funded IVF for women under the age of 40.

If the woman does not fall pregnant naturally over two year period or is not able to get pregnant after 12 cycles of artificial insemination they will become eligible.

A spokesperson for the North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group said: "We are very sorry that we had to make service restrictions as a CCG and I understand the disappointment and impact this particular decision has had on some local couples who are experiencing difficulties in conceiving.

"Our health services face unprecedented demands with an ever increasing population – some of whom live with complex conditions.

"Therefore, when commissioning services, we must take into consideration the overall benefit services have on the wider population to ensure they meet greatest need.

"While I appreciate the distress these restrictions have caused, the local NHS must live within its means.

"Couples experiencing difficulties in conceiving could still seek medical advice through their GP in the first instance, and whilst IVF funding is no longer available we would expect your GP to guide you on the alternative options available.

"The CCG has an Exceptional Clinical Case Process in place to review applications for exceptionally where patients do not meet the specified criteria.

"The patient’s GP or secondary care consultant could use this process to make an application (if not already applied) if they believe the patient to be exceptional to the cohort of patients."