A FATHER who says he was told he had just two weeks to live five months ago has defied the odds and is more determined than ever to beat a rare form of cancer.

Garry French, from Farnworth, has a rare muscle cancer, which he says doctors have said is untreatable ­— and gave him just weeks to live back in June.

Now family and friends are rallying around to give him the best possible chance to beat the disease through treatment offered in Mexico.

Jenna and Garry French.

Jenna and Garry French.

The cancer, stage 4 leiomyosarcoma, a type of soft tissue cancer in the muscles, is rare, with only 600 people in the UK diagnosed every year, according to the Macmillan Cancer Support charity.

Garry said: “I’ve gone from playing football, spending time with my girls, and working, to not being able to do anything now.

“I’ve gone from weighing 17 stone to 13 stone, but I just want to get on with it. I can’t let it get me down, but it’s just a shock.

“When they told me I had weeks to live, I just wanted to see my kids.”

Ellie French, Garry French, Amelia French.

Ellie French, Garry French, Amelia French.

After complaining of back pain for two years, Garry was finally diagnosed with the tumour, transferred from the Royal Bolton Hospital to Manchester Royal Hospital.

Garry is now unable to walk and is using a wheelchair.

The former window fixer’s dad, Philip French, was treated for the same cancer two years ago but was diagnosed early enough and recovered.

Garry now has stage four cancer which he says means he is not allowed to have an operation.

His wife, Jenna French said: “It’s awful for us, he’s only 39 and we have two girls.

“I was devastated, it’s turned our world upside down. It’s so out of the blue, because he didn’t have any health problems before.

“He’s been back and forth to the hospital for two years so I wonder if it could have been stopped earlier.”

The Bolton News: Garry French in hospital.

Jenna was forced to give up her job as a self-employed nail technician to look after her husband when Garry was unable to work.

Garry added: “I just want to get some sort of life back, even if it’s just to be able to walk again.

“Getting this treatment is life or death for me. It’s hard to get the treatment here, so I’m hopeful I can get to Mexico for the surgery.”

Jenna was determined not to give up and through research, found the Immunity Therapy Centre in the Central American country.

The family have so far raised £17,000 and are hoping to raise the full amount of £40,000 to be able to fly over to Mexico, where doctors will start treatment.

To donate, visit the Go Fund Me page.