“I feel like it’s important for me to give back in some small way” - Amanda's experience of stage 4 lung cancer and the importance of clinical trials.
“I first realised something was wrong back in 2017 when I had problems with breathing and tightness in my chest, which then developed into a horrible, dry cough. I tried inhalers and antibiotics from my GP, but I’m a doctor and I knew that something wasn’t right, so I asked for an urgent CT scan. This came back as abnormal and I went on to have a biopsy of a lymph node in my neck, which was positive for lung cancer, stage 4."
Amanda started her treatment elsewhere but was later referred to The Royal Marsden.
Joining the clinical trial
Since 2017, Amanda has received several different forms of targeted therapy and over 40 rounds of radiotherapy. This included targeted radiotherapy using one of The Royal Marsden's CyberKnife machines, which is funded by The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. The CyberKnife is a robotic radiotherapy system that can deliver radiation to patients with pinpoint accuracy, meaning less healthy tissue is damaged during treatment.
Amanda has been on a phase one clinical trial since April 2023, after her cancer stopped responding to treatment. The trial, which tests a targeted drug on patients who have a mutation in the ALK gene, is run by Dr Anna Minchom, Consultant Medical Oncologist, whose role is part funded by The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.
Dr Minchom said:
“Amanda is truly inspiring! It is wonderful to see her doing so well in the trial. I am hopeful that new drugs will make a difference for more patients with ALK-positive lung cancer.”
The Royal Marsden runs over 900 clinical trials every year, which are essential to improving current treatment and care for patients now and in the future.
"This trial was on going in the US and so had been on my radar for some time as there aren't many specific treatments for this form of the disease," says Amanda. "As soon as the trial came to the UK and started recruiting, I was one of the first who was enrolled, thanks to my team. Research and clinical trials are so important for patients like me and I was very lucky with the timing. I hope by participating in this trial, this will benefit future patients with ALK+ lung cancer."
The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity supports many of the clinical trials undertaken at the hospital. This includes in the Oak Cancer Centre, where over 170 new research studies were launched by 20 different teams in the centre’s first year. In addition, the West Wing Clinical Research Centre is a dedicated space in our Sutton hospital for complex clinical trials, and was entirely funded by gifts in Wills, generously left by The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity supporters.
Joining The Banham Marsden March
Amanda took part in The Banham Marsden March in 2022 to fundraise for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, as well as to regain her fitness and feel good about herself.
“I come from a background of participating in 10K races and half marathons. Being fit has always been important in my life and is also a big part of being in the military.
“Taking part in The Banham Marsden March during treatment was a way of proving to myself that I was still capable of completing something like this, despite the treatments and many rounds radiotherapy I had gone through. It was important for me to know I was still capable of walking 15 miles – which I absolutely was!
“There are so many amazing things that The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity support and I am benefitting directly from some of the services, staff and research which they are funding. Dr Minchom is Charity funded, and she is leading on the clinical trial which I have been on for the past 18 months. As a patient at the hospital, I feel like it’s important for me to give back in some small way.”
Entering the Invictus Games
The Banham Marsden March was just the start of Amanda’s return to her fitness journey. After seeing an open call for athletes to participate in the Invictus Games, Amanda attended a number of selection training camps. In February 2023, she discovered that she had been selected to take part in her chosen events: rowing, swimming, athletics and powerlifting. The moment she learnt she would be part of team UK was “amazing, overwhelming, and daunting!”
“I was very grateful that I’d been given this opportunity to try and regain my health and fitness. It was immensely difficult to do that at a time when the cancer was progressing and I switched treatments – onto my current trial. Generally, I have become stronger, and my swimming has slightly improved, but I am annoyingly still held back primarily by my lungs.
“The trial has been good so far – my breathing has improved, but energy levels are still variable. This means exercise is still quite tough some days and it’s difficult to train as intensely and consistently as I would like.
“For me, the Invictus Games were about putting in the effort, doing my best and experiencing something that people wouldn’t ordinarily do. I’ve had to come to terms with the fact I can’t be as fit as I would like to be and instead need to work with where I am aright now, but still also have some attainable goals for the future. I don’t think I’m overly competitive, but I like to do things to the best of my ability.
“I stupidly chose some tough sports for someone with ‘challenged lungs’ and ended up competing with people much younger and fitter than me – as well as more talented! However, it was great to experience and wonderful to witness so many people benefitting from taking part in the Games – athletes with challenging injuries, both mentally and physically, including multiple limb injuries. All were astonishing in their sporting ability and sportsmanship”
Thanks to supporters like you, we are able to provide funding for specialist cancer experts at The Royal Marsden. These experts lead pioneering clinical studies and conduct innovative research into new and better ways to treat cancer to transform the lives of people with cancer across the UK and beyond.
Discover more about ways you can support us today.