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Joining a Clinical Trial can be Very Positive

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Clinical trial leaves Tommy cancer free

My name is Tommy Brennan and I am from Merseyside, England. I am 68 years old now. I live with my wife, Barbara, 2 sons, and a grandson.

In March 2012, I noticed some blood in my pee. The next day, I went to see my doctor. He did some tests including cystoscopy. I thought it is just a regular checkup and it might turn out to be just an infection or like that.

But I was wrong. The results showed a tumor in my bladder. I was terrified, but I had to go with the available treatments.

I had chemotherapy as well as surgery to remove the tumor. But it was worse than the doctors first though, cancer had spread deep into muscle tissues. My health was deteriorating day by day. All treatments had failed.

I Chose the Clinical Trial

Doctors suggested 2 options to me. One involved a very complicated surgical procedure to remove my bladder and reconstruct it from the bowel. It sounded scary. The second option was to join a UK-funded Cancer Research clinical trial.

In my situation, both options had the same level of uncertainty. So I decided to go with the trial. It was called TUXEDO.

In the trial, I had chemotherapy every week, along with radiotherapy 5 days a week for 7 weeks. The doctors monitored me very closely.

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I was told about all possible side-effects but didn’t experience any of them. I did put on some weight but that was nothing. I was well taken care of during the trial. All the hospital staff were really brilliant and reassuring.

Without the Trial, I wouldn't be with my Grandson

In April 2013, three months after the trial ended, the doctors told me the good news. Treatment was a success and my cancer was gone completely. Everyone was happy.

Today, 7 years after, I am doing very well and living a cancer-free life. I have a checkup every 3 months and some blood tests once a year to monitor my health. I am looking forward to the future and having a great time with my family and grandson.

I am grateful for my clinical trial. I knew very little about clinical trials before I got into one. But now I know their importance. Being close to the research made me realize that they are needed to test new drugs, tests, and treatments. Without them, we would not be able to make significant medical progress.

I want people to know that joining a clinical trial can be a really positive thing overall. Clinical trials have the potential to help you and many more in the future.


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This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. CenTrial Data Ltd. does not take responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. Treatments and clinical trials mentioned may not be appropriate or available for all trial participants. Outcomes from treatments and clinical trials may vary from person to person. Consult with your doctor as to whether a clinical trial is a suitable option for your condition. Assistance from generative AI tools may have been used in writing this article.