Robert Glynn, 51, took part in a pioneering trial in Manchester (Picture: PA)
A man told he had less than 12 months to live is now cancer-free thanks to a a new drug regime trial.
Robert Glynn, from Worsley, in Greater Manchester, was diagnosed with bile duct cancer a day before his 49th birthday, during the height of the Covid pandemic.
He had visited his GP, undergoing a series of scans and blood tests but his cancer was only picked up by chance when he got an infection in his gall bladder.
Also known as biliary tract cancer, it is a rare form with just few treatment options.
Only around 1,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with it every year and just 5% of them live for five years or more after diagnosis.
But the welder was referred to Christie NHS Foundation Trust to take part in a new clinical trial of immunotherapy.
The now 51-year-old said: ‘I wouldn’t be here today without the trial. When I was given the option to take part in research, I jumped at the chance.
Mr Glynn and his partner Simone can now breathe a sigh of relief after he was declared cancer-free (Picture: PA)
‘You do anything you can to extend your life. I feel very lucky as I had the cancer for two years and had no idea.
‘So getting the all-clear was overwhelming. Having the diagnosis has turned my life around.
‘With my partner, Simone, we get out in nature and walk loads. When something like this happens you realise life is for living.’
Before starting the trial, his tumour was analysed for any genetic alterations, and the results showed he had a high mutation burden (large numbers of genetic mutations in the cells).
He was first diagnosed during the height of the Covid pandemic (Picture: PA)
This showed doctors he may potentially have a good response to the treatment.
Mr Glynn was started on an immunotherapy drug, which is already approved for use in other cancers, including lung, kidney and oesophageal cancer.
The treatment, which is given by a drip and helps a person’s own immune system fight cancer, was combined with standard chemotherapy.
The drug cannot be named due to the experimental nature of this trial for bile duct cancer.
To his surprise, the tumour in his liver had shrunk from 12cm to 2.6cm, while his adrenal gland tumour went from 7cm to 4.1cm.
Mr Glynn is doing his best to live a healthier lifestyle and has changes his diet completely (Picture: PA)
This meant Mr Glynn was able to undergo surgery in April to finally remove them.
Surgeons found only dead tissue, which meant the treatment had killed off all the cancer cells.
Since his operation, he has not needed any more treatment and his three-monthly scans show he is clear of cancer.
Regardless, Mr Glynn is doing his best to live a healthier lifestyle and has changes his diet completely.
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‘I cut out processed foods, refined sugar, dairy and milk and now have a smoothie every day and organic fruit and vegetables and make everything from scratch,’ he said.
‘I managed to lose 5st, which was a big step for me. I realised you cannot just rely on the doctors to help you. You need to help yourself too.
‘It’s also important to remain positive and not give up. It’s never over until it’s over.’
The clinical trial was run by Professor Juan Valle, consultant oncologist at the Christie and a world-leading expert in biliary tract cancer.
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‘It’s never over until it’s over.’
