A mum from Manchester who was told she only had months to live has now been given the breast cancer all-clear after a groundbreaking drug trial.
51-year-old Jasmin David from Fallowfield was a previously fit and healthy mother of two grown-up children, and was working as a clinical lead at a care home for the elderly, before she discovered that she had an aggressive triple negative form of breast cancer in November 2017 after finding a lump above the nipple.
Following her diagnosis, Jasmin then underwent six months of chemotherapy and a mastectomy in April 2018, followed by 15 cycles of radiotherapy.
These treatments successfully cleared her body of cancer, but sadly, back in October 2019, the cancer returned, and scans showed multiple lesions throughout her body meaning she had a poor prognosis.
Jasmin then discovered that the cancer had unfortunately spread to the lungs, lymph nodes, and chest bone, and was given the devastating news that she had less than a year to live.
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Two months later, and with no other options left, Jasmin was offered the opportunity to be part of research by participating in the first phase of a two-year groundbreaking clinical trial, which she accepted, and then in December 2019, began treatment at the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Manchester Clinical Research Facility (CRF) at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester.
Jasmin David is receiving groundbreaking treatment at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester / Credit: The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
During the trial, Jasmin is given an experimental medicine combined with Atezolizumab – an immunotherapy drug administered intravenously – which she continues to have every three weeks.
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Jasmin says she feels “reborn” after beginning the treatment trial.
And she’s now showing no evidence of the disease, and enjoying life with her husband David and children Ryan and Riona.
“I was 15 months down the line after my initial cancer treatment and had almost forgotten about it, but then the cancer returned,” Jasmin explained.
“When I was offered the trial, I didn’t know if it would work for me, but I thought that at least I could do something to help others and use my body for the next generation. At first I had many horrible side effects including headaches and spiking temperatures, so I was in hospital over Christmas and quite poorly – but then thankfully, I started to respond well to the treatment.
"I take each day as a blessing in my life." Jasmin was diagnosed with cancer and given less than a year to live. But she's now been told she's clear of the disease after taking part in a clinical trial.
By June 2021, scans showed no measurable cancer cells in Jasmin’s body and she was then declared cancer free, but will still remain on treatment until December 2023.
Professor Fiona Thistlethwaite, medical oncologist and clinical director of Manchester CRF at The Christie – who is leading on the study in the UK – said: “We are really pleased that Jasmin has had such a good outcome, and at The Christie, we are continually testing new drugs and therapies to see if they can benefit more people.”
BBC Radio 6 Music Festival is returning to Greater Manchester next month
Thomas Melia
The BBC Radio 6 Music Festival is coming back to Manchester once again, and they’re bringing yet another phenomenal lineup with them.
National radio station and overall upcoming music connoisseurs, BBC Radio 6, are back with their music festival, and just like years previous, it’s taking place across Manchester.
Over the years, the festival has brought some of music’s biggest names to lots of local venues, putting on an array of brilliant live performances.
Last spring saw the arrival of rock band Gossip and Irish singer CMAT, both taking up residency in O2 Victoria Warehouse, Lily Fontaine of English Teacher at Band On The Wall, while DJ Seinfeld went B2B with Salute in Depot Mayfield.
Leading this glowing roster of performers is Ezra Collective, a Mercury award -winning band known for their brilliant jazz productions, and then from one Mercury-winning band to another, Lily Fontaine won’t be riding solo this year, instead she’s bringing all the crew with her, as English Teacher are set to perform at this huge festival.
Fat Dog, whose debut album is titled ‘Woof’, are joining in on the fun with Scottish band Mogwai also making a feature too.
There’s even a chance for an exclusive first listen too, as Kae Tempest will be debuting new material right here in Manchester.
Ezra Collective are performing at BBC Radio 6 Music Festival.English Teacher make a return to Manchester for this special event.Fat Dog are also playing the BBC Radio 6 Music Festival.
All performances will be taking place at a multitude of venues, like the previously mentioned O2 Victoria Warehouse, Depot Mayfield, and Band On The Wall, as well as loads of other events at entertainment bar, Yes.
Every highlight, alongside live and recorded live performances, will be taking place at MediaCityUK in Salford, in order to keep everything Manchester central.
BBC Radio 6 Music Festival is happening from 26 – 29 March 2025, with tickets going on sale from 6 February at 10am here.
MediaCity’s new £2.5m indoor activity park confirms opening date just in time for half term
Emily Sergeant
A brand new indoor activity park is set to open its doors in Greater Manchester, and the launch date has now been revealed.
In case you missed it, it was announced towards the end of last year that Salford had been chosen by Oxygen Activeplay as the location for its next venture, and will be descending on Quayside MediaCity this month with state-of-the-art equipment and activities to help local families stay active whilst having fun at the same time.
Oxygen will sit above bustling food hall Kargo MKT, taking over the former site of I’m a Celebrity Jungle Challenge.
Following a £2.5 million investment, the new park will feature more than 30 trampolines, a mega-air bag, a high ropes course, a ‘Rollglider’ aerial ride which flies over the facility, and Oxygen’s signature illuminated sensory experience ‘Excite Tunnel’, along with even more “epic” activities.
A series of optional games and dance parties will also be on offer during each play session, and the new Manchester park will also host ‘Peaceful Play’ sessions designed for neurodivergent guests, who prefer a calmer and quieter playing environment, as well as there being a ‘Toddler Venture Zone’.
A cafe serving drinks, snacks, and meals is also set to overlook the park.
But, up until recently, the date when the exciting new venture would be welcoming in the public for the first time remained under lock and key.
A new £2.5m ‘state-of-the-art’ indoor activity park will be opening at MediaCity / Credit: Jamie McPhilimey
It’s been a long time coming, but after 6,000 hours of hard work from the construction team, it has now been confirmed that Oxygen at MediaCity will open on Monday 17 February , just in time for half term.
Doors will open at 9am, and pre-booking is advised.
“With Oxygen at MediaCity being our tenth park, we knew we had to do something really special, so we have some really big and exciting plans,” teased Oxygen Activeplay CEO, Stephen Wilson, ahead of the new park opening in a couple of weeks time.
Emily Sergeant -
5th July 2022 
