"I said yes to a clinical trial. I was offered the chance, why not take it?"

Posted 4th March 2024

When Ian Hollis, 64, began going to the toilet multiple times in the night, he knew he had to go to his doctor.

“I was already being monitored for my risk of prostate cancer but then I spent some time working abroad and COVID hit. I wasn’t keen on going in to hospital so I didn’t keep up with my appointments as well as I should have” explains Ian.

“But then I started waking up needing the toilet four or five times a night. It was awful and affecting my life, not to mention my quality of sleep. I knew I had to go back to my doctor.”

Ian had his PSA levels checked. PSA stands for Prostate-Specific Antigen, which is a protein which all males have in their blood. High levels of PSA can be a sign of prostate cancer.

Ian said: “A man my age usually has a PSA level of around 4. However mine was 14.5. I was called back to my doctor within days and sent for further checks.”

Ian was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer and began attending appointments at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre.

He was offered the opportunity to be a part of a clinical trial called ATLANTA.

The ATLANTA trial is comparing different focal treatments to the prostate gland. Focal treatments are targeted, high doses of treatment directly to the cancer, which leave the rest of the organ intact. In the ATLANTA trial, these include extreme cold therapy called cryotherapy, HIFU which involves high-frequency ultra-sound rays, surgery or radiotherapy in addition to systemic hormone treatments, where hormones are added to the bloodstream to circulate around the entire body.

Ian said: “As part of my treatment, I’m taking a drug called Apalutamide every day. I haven’t had any side effects and have mostly felt fit and well.

“I have to watch what I eat and keep hydrated – which was a challenge when my symptoms were bad and I needed the toilet all the time.”

Ian is grateful for the opportunity to be treated through a clinical trial after a friend, who was having cancer treatment, encouraged him to go for it. “My friend encouraged me to say yes to the clinical trial. I was very open to it. The team at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre have offered me a chance so why not take it?”

Ian is due to start radiotherapy in the ATLANTA trial at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre – Wirral after having a procedure known as TURP, where part of the prostate is removed to prevent it from putting pressure on the bladder and urethra. The procedure has helped Ian’s bladder control and he’s now ready to have more treatment.

“I feel so much better after the TURP – it’s really improved my symptoms. I’ve recently finished my radiotherapy treatment at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre – Wirral and rang the End of Treatment Bell. It was a surreal moment. Whilst the team have looking after me have been amazing, I hope I never have to go back!”

Ian hopes he’ll now be able to get back to some of the things he loves like driving his vintage Porsche, travelling and he is looking forward to becoming a grandfather for the first time, after his daughter announced recently she was expecting a baby.

Dr Ian Lampkin, Consultant Medical Oncologist at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, is part of the medical team treating Ian. He said: “The decision was made to delay Ian’s radiotherapy treatment so we could alleviate his bladder symptoms – it’s our job as his medical team to always be thinking about his overall wellbeing and these symptoms were causing him some issues.

“I’m really glad his operation has been successful and he’s now finished his treatment. I think Ian will have handled his course of radiotherapy really well – he’s fit, working hard to stay active/exercise regularly and eat the right things which are all of vital importance when looking at treating the Prostate Cancer holistically. He’s also got a great support system around him which is again important helping our patients get through their cancer.”

Ian wants to get the message out to any men who might be suffering with symptoms to go and see their doctor. “Go sooner than I did” says Ian. “If you have symptoms that concern you, go and see your GP surgery. They’ll be able to help you. Don’t do what I call ‘the man thing’ and delay going. It could save your life.”