First lung cancer patient finishes his ground-breaking treatment at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre
Posted 1st February 2022
On Friday 4 February we mark World Cancer Day, where we hope to raise awareness of cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment. To mark the day, we'll be telling you about some of our patients' stories.
One of the first patients in the UK to join a clinical research trial for a new lung cancer therapy has finished his 14-month treatment at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre’s flagship hospital in Liverpool.
“I didn’t think I’d be around to see this,” said Andy Hickinbotton before ringing the end of treatment bell at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre – Liverpool.
Andy’s cancer was very advanced when he was diagnosed after tumours were spotted in one of his lungs – but he has been given a combination of the standard chemotherapy and radiation treatment along with immunotherapy treatment, which helps his body’s immune system to act against the cancer cells. He has now finished the treatment and though his cancer is likely to be incurable, this treatment is giving him more time and a better chance of control over it.
Having smoked for 50 years since the age of 10 – getting through as many as 40 cigarettes a day at one point – Andy thought there was a problem when he began to be constantly tired and feel dizzy in early 2020.
Andy said: “I wanted to sleep all the time, even when I was at work and out with my mates – I’d also get dizzy spells, so I knew something was wrong.”
He was sent for an X-ray and the results revealed cancer, at late stage three. He was given the devastating news that the cancer was in-operable but treatment could prolong his life and ease his symptoms. In October 2020 he was asked if he wanted to join the Checkmate clinical research trial as its first patient at The Clatterbridge. The cancer centre had just launched the study, which adds immunotherapy to the standard chemotherapy and radiation treatment.
“I had nothing to lose,” said Andy. “When you are told it is terminal, it hits you hard. But I knew going on the trial would give me a better chance.”
Since Andy began participating in Checkmate, more lung cancer patients have joined the clinical research trial and The Clatterbridge was recently named as the largest recruiter for the study in Western Europe. Andy has been having regular treatment in Liverpool right through the pandemic, travelling from his home in Runcorn.
“It didn’t stop me getting out and seeing people when I could,” said Andy. “But during lockdown it was tough and I actually looked forward to coming to the hospital for the treatment so I could see the staff. They have been great. You can’t fault them.”
Andy gave up cigarettes when he received his diagnosis, kicking a habit he had for half a century. “I gave up 14 months ago and won’t go back to them. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love one – but I don’t think I could actually smoke one anyway. I can’t stand the smell. I’ve done without them for 14 months and I’ll stay that way.”
Andy is looking forward to going out on more day trips and seeing his friends, including at Halton Royal British Legion. Andy worked in physical jobs all his life, including as a roofer and scaffolder, and he says he may even go back to work. He will also keep in touch with the team at Clatterbridge, who will closely monitor him.
“I know the cancer won’t go away,” said Andy. “But when you go on a clinical trial, you also know you are helping other people who get lung cancer in the future, even if it doesn’t help me. I’d recommend a clinical trial to anyone – if they want to do it, don’t worry about it, just go for it.”
Dr Anoop Haridass, Consultant in Clinical Oncology at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre and lead clinician of this Checkmate (209-73L) clinical research trial, said: “We are very grateful to Andy for joining this study, which will help lung cancer patients going forward.
“This study allows us to combine immunotherapy, which has revolutionised advanced lung cancer treatment, with curative chemotherapy and radiation treatment in advanced lung cancer and has the potential to help the majority of lung cancer patients who have inoperable cancers and giving some of these patients a greater possibility of a cure.
“We are very proud that Clatterbridge is the highest recruiter in Western Europe for the Checkmate study and I would like to thank all the patients and staff who work on it for their hard work.”
