Oluwatoyin's story

“I had just given birth to my daughter, and while I should have been enjoying those first weeks with my baby, my health was deteriorating. I had some blood tests which showed that my haemoglobin levels were dangerously low, and I was admitted to hospital. A colonoscopy confirmed the worst, I had a tumour in my bowel.”

It was during her second pregnancy in 2017, Oluwatoyin began experiencing several concerning symptoms; she was losing weight fast, suffering from severe abdominal pain, and was noticing blood in her stools. She believed some of these symptoms could be due to her pregnancy, and her doctors advised it would be challenging to conduct thorough investigations into her symptoms whilst she was pregnant.

A devastating diagnosis 

After giving birth to her daughter, the symptoms persisted and Oluwatoyin visited her GP. A blood test showed her haemoglobin levels were dangerously low. Oluwatoyin was admitted to her local hospital, where tests confirmed that she had bowel cancer. Following this Oluwatoyin had surgery to remove the cancer, followed by chemotherapy to try to stop the cancer recurring. But it was during her chemotherapy treatment that her cancer returned and she was told it had spread to other parts of her body. At this point Oluwatoyin was given additional therapy to try and control the cancer, however this treatment wasn’t effective. It was at this time that that Oluwatoyin was given the devastating news that there were no more treatment options available, and she had six months or less to live. 

“My baby was just 6 months old. I had another daughter who was only 9. I had been told there was nothing else they could do, and that I had six months or less to live. I was, of course, completely and utterly devastated. I’d had surgery and two types of chemotherapy, but my cancer had spread to my large intestine, peritoneum, lymph nodes, and a part of my lungs. My body and mind were exhausted. I was barely holding on at that time.”

It was at this point her consultant introduced her to the Sarah Cannon Research Institute at HCA Healthcare UK, where Oluwatoyin was enrolled onto a clinical trial. 

“Just when I thought there was no hope, a door opened. I met with a consultant who talked to me about the Sarah Cannon Research Institute UK, a place where they do clinical trials for cancer. I was willing to try anything, to stay alive for my children, so I asked him to put me in touch. Very soon I was speaking with the team and enrolling onto a trial.”

Enrolling onto the clinical trial

The Sarah Cannon Research Institute UK were running a clinical trial for an immunotherapy drug called Cetrelimab. The trial was for patients with metastatic bowel cancer, who had not responded to standard line therapies, and who had a specific genetic mutation in their cancer. A biopsy of Oluwatoyin’s cancer confirmed that she was eligible to take part in the trial. 

“I started the trial with Sarah Cannon in July 2018. When I started it was made clear that there was no guarantee it would work - as with any treatment, but I had nothing to lose; I had to try. At first, I really struggled with the side effects, but I was able to continue - I was determined to continue, and slowly, my body adjusted, and the side effects became manageable. And as the months went by, the treatment started to work, and I began to feel better.”

The importance of emotional support 

Oluwatoyin remained on the Cetrelimab trial from July 2018 until May 2024. Despite a challenging start, she experienced minimal and tolerable side effects during this period. Under the compassionate care of the Sarah Cannon team, she felt supported ‘clinically and emotionally’.

“Everybody at Sarah Cannon, from the nurses to the doctors, to everyone who works there, they are wonderful, incredible. They were like family to me, providing not just medical care, but emotional support. They celebrated every small victory with me, understood my fears, and comforted me when I felt overwhelmed. I was very emotional, I didn’t know what would happen to me, and then what would happen to my children. The team would talk to me, comfort me, and it would keep me going. Each time I went to Sarah Cannon it was like going to see my family. Aside from my daughters I don’t have family in this country, so that was so important to me.”

Remarkable results 

As a result of this clinical trial Oluwatoyin has achieved a remarkable clinical status 

“When the doctors told me I’d had a complete response to treatment I could hardly believe it. Although I continue to have regular monitoring the abnormalities relating to my cancer are no longer detectable.

My oldest child is 16 now, and my youngest is 7; she was just 6 months old when I was diagnosed. Sarah Cannon have brought me time, time to see her go into nursery, to go into reception, to go into year one. The trial hasn’t just given me more time—it’s given me hope for a future.”

Personal aspirations and giving back

Inspired by her experience, Oluwatoyin has embarked on a new career and is training to be a nurse. She has completed two years of her nursing degree and has just begun her third and final year.

“The first and most important thing to me was to be able to have more time with my children, to travel with them and to make memories, and we have done that, and continue to do so. But beyond that, I have always dreamed of becoming a nurse and have just started my third and final year of training. When I finish my training, I want to work in an oncology department, to provide care and compassion to others dealing with cancer. And I would love to volunteer at Sarah Cannon, to give back to the place that gave me so much, to support others the way I was supported.”