Gary's story
“I know cancer’s a possibility for any of us, especially as we get older. But when I was experiencing issues with my eye, cancer was the last thing I would have expected.”
When Gary, a 62-year-old fleet engineer from Portsmouth, began noticing issues with the vision in his left eye, he visited his GP. After an initial appointment, Gary was referred to his local hospital for further tests, where he was diagnosed a rare eye cancer, known as Uveal Melanoma.
Uveal Melanoma is referred to as a high-risk type of cancer as it is likely to spread to other parts of the body, most commonly to the liver. Because this type of cancer is rare and can be difficult to treat, there are just a small number of specialist centres in the UK that provide expert treatment.
Once Gary was diagnosed, he was given an initial treatment plan, which involved surgically removing his eye. “Initially it was a lot to get my head around. I had my eye surgery and the operation itself went well, but my consultant told me there was an 80% chance of the cancer spreading to my liver within two years. Which was another difficult piece of news to take in.”
Due to the risk of the cancer spreading to other parts of his body, Gary had regular diagnostic tests to monitor for any signs of cancer.
Leaders in Oncology Care
“Unfortunately, just three months after my eye surgery the cancer had spread to my liver. At this point, I was told my cancer was not curable and that there were no other conventional treatment options available to me. But my consultant in Southampton was aware of a new immunotherapy treatment. It’s not widely available, but he could refer me to Professor Paul Nathan at Leaders in Oncology Care.”
Gary had an initial consultation with Professor Nathan who explained that new treatments are often approved and available through independent providers, before they can be prescribed more widely. Through the Leaders in Oncology Care network at HCA UK, this includes access to new therapies for rare and complex conditions like Gary’s.
Professor Nathan says “Tebentafusp is a targeted immunotherapy drug, also known as KIMMTRAK. This is a new type of immunotherapy that creates a bridge between our own T cells and tumour cells. This bridge helps the immune system to target and destroy uveal melanoma cells, helping to control and, in some cases, shrink the cancer. This is the first systemic treatment that has shown a positive impact on survival of people with uveal melanoma. It’s not a cure, but it has helped people with this type of cancer to live for longer.”
However, as Professor Nathan explained to Gary, not everyone is eligible for this treatment; eligibility depends on having a specific marker in the blood, with a 50% chance of carrying the marker.
“With all the bad luck I’d had, I thought I’d be in the 50% that couldn’t have the treatment. Fortunately, Professor Nathan tested me, and I was eligible.”
An unexpected turn
Before starting treatment, Gary needed some additional tests to make sure the cancer had not spread to any other parts of his body, as this is a requirement for this type of treatment. These tests revealed that Gary did have a small area of cancer on his brain. Gary had radiotherapy to treat his brain lesion and was able to move forward with his immunotherapy treatment.
Gary began having his weekly infusions of KIMMTRAK under the care of Professor Nathan at HCA UK at University College Hospital, part of the Leaders in Oncology Care network.
“All was going well, but then about six weeks into treatment, I started feeling unwell. I noticed my walking was a bit funny, so I contacted the team. Professor Nathan arranged a scan the same day, which was reassuring. I was worried the cancer had returned, but it turned out to be a brain bleed.”
Following surgery to relieve the bleed on Gary’s brain, he was able to resume his treatment within a few weeks.
A supportive team
“I’m there every week and all the staff that deal with me are fantastic, I know them all by their first names and we always have a good chat and a laugh. It’s brilliant, a great experience considering what I’m there for.
They also make my wife, Jo, so welcome. The first few times you have the treatment you have to have them in hospital and stay overnight, just to make sure everything is ok. Jo wanted to stay so they made sure she was accommodated and comfortable. Eleven out of ten, brilliant.”
Staying positive and moving forward
“I know the treatment won’t work forever, but I’m staying positive and living my life. Professor Nathan explained to me from the start that the goal is to keep the cancer in my liver stable, and on my last scan it was stable, so treatment continues.
I’m still working as a fleet engineer, but currently from home. My car driving license was taken away for a year, but once I get it back, I’ll be on the road again.
When I first lost my eye, I was anxious in crowds, but now I don’t even notice. What amazed everyone is that I’m still enjoying my shooting hobby. I do shotgun shooting, which requires both eyes open. My consultant told me to expect a 50% drop in hit targets, but six months later I told him I was shooting at 85% accuracy—better than before. He laughed and said I must be trying harder, and I must be, because I’m shooting better than ever.
Me and my wife Jo are also back out on our motorboat, which is lovely. Of course, I had a little test drive on my own before I took her out again, but I’m absolutely fine.”
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.