Trial staff meet bladder cancer survivor as they encourage fundraisers to support CRUK Race for Life

Simon Crabb, Professor of Experimental Cancer Therapeutics at the University of Southampton and chief investigator of the AURORA trial said: “There are currently no effective treatments for UTSCC because it is so rare and very few clinical trials have been conducted into this type of cancer. This trial, made possible by Cancer Research UK supporters, will help us show whether immunotherapy could offer patients a treatment option in the future.”

Mark understands the importance of research more than most after successfully being treated for bladder cancer in 2019, receiving emergency care for an unrelated pulmonary embolism in 2010 and recovering from a brain aneurysm in 2022.

Mark, 67, said: “I know I’m very lucky to be here and remember the feeling of being told I had stage 2 bladder cancer. I took it really badly and emotionally it was really tough. Thankfully I had treatment options available to me and I’ve recovered well, but I know not everyone has that chance.

“Not so much is known about the rarer types of bladder cancer and so it’s incredibly important to keep funding the types of clinical trials I’ve seen happening right here in Southampton like the AURORA trial. Anything that can look further into them and develop good immunotherapy treatments is fantastic. I’m incredibly inspired and know that the fundraising really is worthwhile.”

Charlotte Stuart is Head of Data Management at SCTU and is part of the AURORA team. She and many SCTU staff members will be taking part in Race for Life events across the south this summer helping to raise vital funds for research and raising awareness of the clinical trials they work on.

Mark is grateful to all the team for their efforts both at the SCTU and at Race for Life and to the hundreds of supporters enabling scientists to find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer to enable people to live longer, better lives.

During his visit, Mark chatted to the AURORA team to find out more about their work and visited the Centre for Cancer Immunology laboratories where scientists are conducting ground-breaking research into how the immune system can be harnessed to fight cancer and where new immunotherapy treatments are being developed.

And Mark is also keen to remind people to get checked by their GP straight away if they spot any signs and symptoms.

He said: “I first spotted blood in my pee after a game of golf. When it happened a couple more times over the next few months, I told my GP who said it was unlikely to be bladder cancer but referred me for an ultrasound.

“The scan didn’t highlight anything because it turned out my cancer was a flat, round tumour at the top of my bladder rather than looking like a piece of coral. The symptoms persisted though and I eventually paid for a private cystoscopy where they put a camera inside your bladder and this revealed the tumour.

“I found it difficult to deal with my diagnosis, especially when I discovered the cancer had already started to invade the muscle which meant I would need three rounds of chemotherapy at University Hospital Southampton. I then had the choice of radiotherapy or a radical cystectomy to remove the bladder, prostate and nearby lymph nodes and I opted for the surgery which took place at Portsmouth’s QA hospital. Living with a stoma and urostomy was a major change, but I manage it well.

“The timing of lockdown meant the change in routine for everyone gave me time to rebuild my strength and I eventually used my performance on the golf course as a good measure of how well I was doing physically. Now I’m back to where I want to be, winning trophies again and am grateful for all the treatment and care I’ve received to get to this point.

“I’d like to thank everyone across Hampshire who supports Race for Life. Vital work is underway to prevent, diagnose and treat more than 200 types of cancer. The funds raised already help people living with cancer every single day and will make a difference for future generations.”

Last year, Cancer Research UK spent around £4million on research in Southampton aimed at developing new and kinder ways to tackle cancer. And over the decades the charity’s researchers in the city have addressed some of the disease’s biggest challenges.

In 2021 the SCTU revealed the results of the CONFIRM trial which showed that an immunotherapy drug was beneficial for patients with mesothelioma - an aggressive and incurable cancer often linked to breathing in asbestos. That treatment is now being offered on the NHS.

Meanwhile, the ProCAID trial showed that adding a targeted cancer drug to chemotherapy treatment can improve survival for patients with advanced prostate cancer.

Elisa Mitchell, Cancer Research UK’s spokesperson in Hampshire, said: “We are grateful to Mark and all the team at the Southampton Clinical Trials Unit for their support. 

“No matter how cancer affects us, life is worth racing for. Sadly nearly 1 in 2 of us will get cancer in our lifetime.** Race for Life has the power not only to transform lives, but to save them. We’re proud that Race for Life has already helped double survival rates in the UK.  

“We’d love for as many people as possible across Southampton and beyond to join us at Race for Life. Whether people are living with cancer, taking part in honour of or in memory of a loved one with cancer, in it for the medals or just for the fun of fundraising, there is a place for everyone.” 

Since it began in 1994, more than 10 million people have taken part in Race for Life, funding 30 years of hope and progress. Money raised has helped develop radiotherapy which benefits more than 130,000 people with cancer in the UK every year. Cancer Research UK funded scientists led the development of the Human Papillomavirus Virus vaccine, which is expected to prevent almost 90 per cent of cervical cancers in the UK. The charity also funded many large clinical trials looking at the effectiveness of the drug tamoxifen and the research shaped the way the drug is used to treat breast cancer today.