A Manchester man who was told he had just a year left to live has now been given the all-clear from cancer after a groundbreaking drug trial.
51-year-old Robert Glynn from Worsley in Salford is a massive Manchester United fan, enjoys playing snooker, golf, and fishing, and previously worked as a welder before his health turn a took and he went to his doctor with a severe pain in his shoulder that was preventing him from sleeping properly, and eventually developing an infection in his gall bladder.
After several scans and blood tests, Robert got the got the devastating news that he had intrahepatic bile duct cancer back in August 2020 – in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic and the day before his 49th birthday.
Intrahepatic bile duct cancer – which is also known as biliary tract cancer – is a rare cancer that forms in the bile ducts inside the liver, with only around 1,000 people in the UK diagnosed with this type of disease each year, and only around 5% of people living for five years or more after diagnosis.
Sadly, not only is there a poor prognosis and few treatment options for this type of cancer, Robert’s cancer was at such an advanced stage that it was now in his liver and had spread to his adrenal gland too.
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So, he was referred to The Christie and offered the opportunity to participate in a clinical trial.
Robert Glynn from Manchester was given a year to live after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer, but he is now disease-free thanks to a clinical trial at The Christie.
After showing an interest in taking part in the trial, Robert’s tumour sample was sent off for molecular analysis to check for any alterations, and it was found that his tumour had a high mutation burden – which means there was large numbers of genetic mutations in the cells – and this indicated that he may potentially have a good response to immunotherapy, which is a type of cancer treatment that helps the body’s immune system fight cancer.
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Based on these results, Robert was recommended to start a clinical trial with an immunotherapy drug already-approved for use in the UK, combined with the standard chemotherapy.
The treatment was administered intravenously.
The immunotherapy treatment together with chemotherapy proved so successful that it helped shrink the tumour in Robert’s liver and adrenal gland, and meant he was able to have surgery in April this year, which miraculously found only ‘dead tissue’ and showed that treatment combination killed-off all the cancer cells.
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Since the operation, Robert hasn’t needed any more treatment and his three-monthly scans show that he’s now clear of cancer.
Manchester man given a year to live now cancer-free after groundbreaking drug trial / Credit: The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
“I wouldn’t be here today without the trial,” Robert reflects.
“When I was given the option to take part in research, I jumped at the chance. You do anything you can to extend your life… and it’s important to remain positive and not give up. It’s never over until it’s over.”
Robert said getting the all-clear was “overwhelming”.
He continued: “In an odd kind of way having the diagnosis has turned my life around.
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“With my partner, Simone, we get out in nature and walk loads. When something like this happens you realise life is for living.”
Oncologists worldwide are now eagerly awaiting the results of the research into Robert’s case, as this, along with a further study with more patients, could lead to a change in the treatment of biliary tract cancer.
Featured Image – The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
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Channel 4 takes all episodes of Married at First Sight UK off air after rape allegations
Emily Sergeant
Channel 4 has stripped all episodes of Married at First Sight UK from air following rape allegations from previous participants.
The broadcaster said ‘very serious allegations of wrongdoing’ have been made against a small number of past participants in the popular reality TV series, which sees single people – matched by experts – ‘marry’ strangers who they meet for the first time on their wedding day, leading to the show being fully taken off air.
It comes as the BBC and a Panorama special reported allegations from two women who alleged they were raped during filming of the show, and a third described an allegation of a non-consensual sex act.
Each of the past participants all alleged that the show did not do enough to protect them.
Channel 4’s recently appointed CEO, Priya Dogra, confirmed that the broadcaster had instructed an external review of contributor welfare on Married at First Sight UK (MAFS UK) last month.
The broadcaster says it expects the review to report in the coming months, and will share a summary of findings and recommendations at the ‘appropriate time’.
Channel 4 takes all episodes of Married at First Sight UK off air after rape allegations / Credit: James West (via Flickr)
A formal statement issued by Channel 4 addressing the matter reads: “In April, Channel 4 was presented with serious allegations of wrongdoing against a small number of past contributors, allegations that we understand those contributors have denied.
“The channel is mindful of the privacy and continuing duty of care towards all contributors, and cannot comment on or disclose details of those allegations.
“Related to those allegations, Channel 4 was asked to respond to claims of failures in welfare protocols. Channel 4 believes that when concerns related to contributor welfare were raised through existing welfare and production protocols, prompt and appropriate action was taken, based on the information available at the time.
“Channel 4 strongly refutes any claim to the contrary.”
Explaining the decision to remove all episodes of the show from air and streaming services, the statement continued: “While the review is ongoing and until we receive any conclusions and recommendations, all previous seasons of MAFS UK have been removed from Channel 4 streaming and linear services at this time, alongside Channel 4’s MAFS UK social channels.”
Channel 4 says this move considers the ongoing duty of care to all contributors, the seriousness of the allegations levelled against a small number of past contributors, and is made ‘out of an abundance of caution to avoid fuelling speculation or jigsaw identification’.
Featured Image – Channel 4
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Vision to host the Olympics in the North of England takes step forward
Daisy Jackson
The government has taken a serious step forward in its vision to bring an Olympic and Paralympic Games bid to the north of England.
A strategic assessment has officially been commissioned to see if the first northern Olympics could be viable in the 2040s.
The assessment will test the impact that hosting could have on the North’s regeneration and growth.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has said that our corner of the country produces some of the UK’s finest sporting talent, but that the region itself has been overlooked for hosting a global event of this size.
She said that the government is now ‘starting the firing gun on a long overdue vote of confidence in the North’.
An initial strategic assessment has been commissioned from UK Sport to see whether the UK could host an Olympic and Paralympic Games up north.
It will assess key factors such as potential cost, socioeconomic benefit and any bid’s chance of success.
Lisa Nandy said: “London 2012 showed what the Olympics can do for our country. It inspired a generation through sport, attracted huge investment and showed the best of Britain to the world.
“But while the North of England has driven so much sporting excellence, no matter the talent we produce, the sporting moments we create, and the world-class events we attract – for too long we have been told the Olympics is simply too big and too important to be hosted in the North.
“Not any more. It’s time the Olympics came North and we showed what we can offer to the world. I couldn’t be more pleased to announce that we’re starting the firing gun on a long overdue vote of confidence in the North.”
Manchester is already home to world-class cycling facility, the National Cycling Centre. Credit: Unsplash, Dylan Nolte
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said: “Britain’s sporting prowess is recognised and respected around the world. It’s something we are determined to capitalise on to breathe life into our communities and build a stronger and more secure economy.
“That’s why we’re throwing our full support behind bringing the Games back home which will boost our Northern Growth Corridor. It’s also why we’re backing stadium regeneration plans, like at Elland Road, to deliver new homes, business opportunities and public spaces in Leeds and beyond.”
Chair of The Great North, North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said: “From our great cities and towns to our coastlines and countryside, the North has the venues, the passion and the sporting pride to deliver a world-class Olympic and Paralympic Games that showcases the very best of Great Britain to the world.
“A Great North Olympics would be a global showcase, leaving a legacy of prosperity, unity and renewal. It’s an opportunity not to be missed, delivering transformational investment in transport, regeneration and public spaces across the North of England.
“This could become the most people-powered Games ever hosted: inspiring millions of people into sport, volunteering and community action.”
The news comes ahead of a major sporting summer for the UK, which includes events like the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, and the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes Grands Départs.
The Government is already backing bids to host the World Athletics and Para-Athletics Championships in 2029, as well as the 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup, as part of its commitment to driving a decade of change in women’s sport.
Emily Sergeant -
30th December 2022 
