A dad had been left with only 12 months left to live after he was diagnosed with incurable liver cancer following an eye test. Michael Sixsmith, 61, was given the devastating news after visiting his opticians for new glasses back in September 2023. The dad-of-three booked an appointment after noticing watching TV gave him headaches .
The test at the opticians discovered there was a cataract on Michael’s right eye, he was referred to the hospital. A cataract is a cloudy area in the lens of the eye which can cause blurred vision. Michael, who lives in Edenfield, just north of Ramsbottom , attended his appointment and learned his cataract was not too bad - but doctors found something they wanted to investigate further.
Further tests revealed it to be a non-aggressive uveal melanoma , a disease in which cancer cells form in the tissues of the eye. Children’s entertainer Michael, who DJs, performs at birthday parties and teaches 1950s rock ‘n’ roll jive dancing, was sent for surgery to remove it. The operation was a success and the dad was told to return in six months times for scans as a precautionary measure.
This was because there was a chance the melanoma could spread to his liver. But six months later, Michael booked himself in for an ultrasound and discovered the cancer had spread to his liver – and was now incurable. Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Michael said: “I wish they’d said three months because within six months I was diagnosed with cancer.
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