Patient stories

When Crispin Malpas began to experience discomfort swallowing, the last thing he thought it could be was cancer. As a healthy man who had recently celebrated his 40th birthday, and a GP, he knew such a diagnosis was highly unlikely.

When 5 of her friends were all diagnosed with cancer, Liza Butterworth felt the need to do all has could to support the research that helped them.

Woody Blight experienced pain in his knees. With a bit of time, the pain subsided but then a week later he developed a rash on his legs. Again, with a bit of time and some cream, it disappeared but just two weeks later, the knee pain returned.

Abi Richards' life was turned upside down by her cancer diagnosis. Given just two weeks to live, she embraced new immunotherapy treatments that would save her life.

After Mike Knowlton experienced an irritating cough, tests confirmed it was a type of cancer caused by a virus called HPV 16. He underwent surgery to remove the tumour from the back of his tongue.

For a couple weeks, Andy had been feeling a bit sick but didn’t think too much of it. When the symptoms resurfaced at a party celebrating his wedding anniversary and forced him to go to bed, he knew he had to get checked.

In the summer of 2020, Mark Loveys was enjoying a peaceful evening with his wife. As he got up from the sofa, he casually rubbed the side of his neck and felt a lump under his right ear.

As 12-year-old Giovanna leaned forward on the school desk, she was trying to concentrate on the lesson and what the teacher was saying. But as she put her hand on her neck, she felt a lump.