“I had never heard of CAR-T therapy. Now, I’ve been cancer-free for two years thanks to this innovative treatment”
Thanks to pioneering immunotherapy and “fantastic support” at The Royal Marsden, Diane is now cancer-free. Here, she shares her story and why she’s walking The Banham Marsden March to help save more lives.
In 2022, Diane was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of cancer which originates in the body’s lymphatic system.
“I went to the doctor because I was having a terrible pain in my hip, and I remember initially being told that I had broken a small bone in my pelvis. Then I was sent for an MRI.
“When I went for the results of the scan, everyone looked very solemn. They very kindly and delicately told me that they had found cancer in my hip and also in other parts of my body. It wasn’t at all what I was expecting, so it was a real shock.”
“After my initial diagnosis, I went downhill quickly. Whilst waiting for a biopsy, I got to the point where I couldn’t get up the stairs. I was having to sleep on the sofa in the living room, and my daughter would sleep on the floor next to me.”
Following a biopsy to determine the best treatment for her cancer, Diane had chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatment at her local hospital.
“I remember spending Christmas in the hospital in 2022, because I was having a bad reaction to my first round of chemotherapy. I had treatment there until April, when they told me that it had helped, but it hadn’t eliminated my cancer.”
A new, innovative treatment at The Royal Marsden
Diane's cancer was resistant to conventional chemotherapy, so in 2023 she was referred to The Royal Marsden. It was there that she met Consultant Haematologist, Dr Carlos Gonzáles Arias, who explained that Diane would be a good fit for a new, innovative treatment known as CAR-T therapy.
“I hadn’t even heard of CAR-T therapy before, but it sounded very exciting! Carlos was amazing and described everything in detail. I spent two weekends at the Marsden in Sutton having more chemotherapy before I had the CAR-T treatment. The aim of this was to reduce the cancer further so that the CAR-T would be as effective as possible and hopefully eliminate the cancer.”
What is CAR-T therapy?
CAR-T therapy is a type of pioneering immunotherapy which harnesses the patient’s own immune system to fight cancer. CAR-T therapy can give patients another option if, like Diane, their treatment is resistant to traditional treatments such as chemotherapy.
The process of CAR-T therapy involves:
- Taking a patient's T cells
- Expanding and activating them to detect a receptor specifically found in cancer cells
- Reinfusing them back into the patient - the T cells are now better able to recognise and attack cancer cells
Donations from generous supporters like you are helping to support further research into immunotherapy and other pioneering treatments.
“I went to Sutton to have my T-cells extracted. Carlos explained that this type of treatment was tailored to me as an individual. The cells were going to be sent off to Amsterdam and I’d come back to have the cells put back into me.
“I got the call in August and went up to The Royal Marsden in Chelsea. They came into my ward with a big vat which had dry ice pouring out of it, it looked very impressive! The actual infusion only took about 20 minutes, but I had to stay at the hospital for two weeks for monitoring, and to ensure that I didn’t have any side effects. My temperature spiked a lot which is very common, but other than that I was fine.”
The difference CAR-T therapy made for Diane
Following her treatment, Diane had a PET scan to assess the results of the CAR-T therapy.
“I had the telephone appointment to get my results the day before my 70th birthday. My husband and children had arranged a big tea party for me, with all of my friends and family who had been amazing throughout my cancer experience.
“It was such a huge relief when Carlos told me that there was no trace of cancer. I was able to tell all of my friends and family, and then we had a big celebration at my birthday party the next day. Being given the all-clear was the best birthday present I could have asked for.
“The treatment I got at The Royal Marsden was just fantastic. It was so nice to have the support and feel like I could bother them with anything – someone was always available.”
Now, Diane has been in remission for over two years, and she attends The Royal Marsden every three months for regular blood tests and check-ups.
Marking two years in remission at The Banham Marsden March
Diane took part in The Banham Marsden March in 2025 - a 15-mile walk between The Royal Marsden’s Chelsea and Sutton sites - as a way to give back to the hospital.
“We set off from London and it was so well organised, it was just brilliant. There were some lovely stops along the route as we walked through parks – with people cheering you on every step of the way.
“My grandsons, who were four and six at the time, met up with us and we all walked the last couple of miles together. That was really lovely, and I’m so glad we had that experience together.
“It was great because as we’d walk along, people would honk their car horns and cheer us on, and there were so many people that the atmosphere was fantastic. It was interesting and moving to see other people’s stories, when they had written them on their backs – why they were walking and who they were walking for.
“When I was diagnosed, I was more or less housebound for about 6 months before going into hospital. That was in the back of my mind, which was definitely very poignant on the day, and it still makes me emotional when I think about it now.
“I think it was the first time I’d been back to Chelsea since my treatment, so I remember thinking about the time I spent there. It was a fantastic experience and one that I’ll never forget.”
Since the event began in 2011 our incredible participants have raised an astonishing £21m for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.
By taking part in The Banham Marsden March you will help save the lives of cancer patients like Diane, everywhere. Find out more.