A RACE AGAINST TIME TO FIND CURE FOR LEE
FIANCEE’S FIGHT TO FUND FULL-TIME RESEARCH INTO AGGRESSIVE CANCER
THE fiancee of a man with an aggressive form of bowel cancer is at the forefront of a bid to find a cure.
Lee Hancock, of Rearsby, has a cancer with a mutation that means it resists chemotherapy and other treatments. His fiancee, Cara De Faye, is raising tens of thousands of pounds towards a Midlands research project which could prove a lifeline.
Cara said: “We have a chance of a breakthrough and there is now a glimmer of hope. With further testing, there could be a cure for this.”
THE fiancee of a Leicestershire cancer sufferer with a mutation which makes the disease resistant to chemotherapy treatment is rasing tens of thousands of pounds towards a pioneering research project that could not only save his life but also the lives of potentially millions more around the world.
Cara De Faye has teamed up with researchers at the University of Birmingham in what she describes as a “race against time” to help find a cure.
Her partner, Lee Hancock, was diagnosed with bowel cancer - normally one of the most treatable forms of the disease - three years ago.
The 37-year-old, who is being shielded at the couple’s Rearsby home due to the coronavirus outbreak, had been running a successful online marketing firm when he was struck down by the illness.
“It was strange because Lee didn’t have any of the most common symptoms normally associated with bowel cancer,” said Cara. “The only symptom was a pain on the left side of his body - that was it.”
After a GP visit and blood tests, Lee eventually underwent a colonoscopy and CT scan, which revealed a large tumour. He was diagnosed with advanced bowel cancer, which had also spread to his liver.
“Our world came crashing down,” said Cara.
Lee endured several painful and invasive operations, including having a section of his bowel removed along with part of his liver, followed by months of gruelling chemotherapy.
“At first, we tried our best to be brave because we’d heard that bowel cancer is one of the easiest to treat,” said Cara. “What we didn’t realise is this statistic doesn’t actually apply to stage 4 cancer, which has a survival rate of between five and 10 per cent, at best, over a five-year period.
“But Lee is a fighter and we’ve both tried to remain positive.”
Just when they thought the worst was behind them, the couple were dealt another blow when a routine check-up in 2018 revealed the cancer had spread to his lungs, leading to more surgery and debilitating chemotherapy.
“At that point, I remember my deep despair,” said Cara. “Thinking that no-one deserves to suffer so much, especially someone as gentle and as caring as Lee.”
DURING this period, Cara decided to learn as much as she could about this aggressive form of cancer. She said: “It was at this time Lee was found to have a BRAF V600E mutation, which means that his cancer type ‘mutates’ whenever it is attacked.
“Whenever we try to treat this cancer, it learns what is attacking it and mutates so we can’t stop it. Basically, the gene mutation makes his tumours resistant to chemotherapy and other treatments.
“It’s actually not that rare, as up to one in five people with certain kinds of cancer will have this mutation, which means a very high chance of mortality.
“As well as between 15 and 20 per cent of bowel cancer patients, people with skin cancer, certain lung cancers and types of leukaemia will also have this mutation, meaning thousands of people like Lee will die from this disease.”
THE couple were given renewed hope in the form of Professor Andrew Beggs, of the University of Birmingham Medical School, who is at the forefront of world research into the BRAF V600E gene mutation.
Cara said: “His team are beginning to understand how this cancer mutates and other trials have taken place that have shown promising results in slowing the cancer spread.
“With their technology, the team at Birmingham Medical School have a real chance of achieving a breakthrough and there is now a glimmer of hope. With further testing and understanding there could be a cure for this type of cancer.” The problem, however, is that this type of specialist research desperately needs funding.
“To extend Lee’s life, and therefore others, we have been given the chance to access a method called CRISPR, which traces faults in a person’s genes,” said Cara. “When these faults are found they can be switched off using targeted treatment to effectively kill off the cancer cells. When Lee’s cancer is better understood, better matches can be made for treatment.”
The couple have launched an online fund-raising campaign and have, so far, raised £41,946 towards their £110,000 target, which will pay for a full time researcher.
PROFESSOR Beggs, who is also a leading figure in the UK’s fight against Covid-19, said: “Having a faulty BRAF gene makes a bowel cancer much more difficult to treat. We don’t completely understand why and we need to find out.
“A technique called Genomewide CRISPR allows us to turn off each gene in turn. By working out which ones the cancer cells is using, we can select new drugs for each patient and understand how we can effectively kill cancer cells with the BRAF fault.
“With the necessary funding, we can fund a PHD placement to help our senior scientist carry out the CRISPR technique on cancer cells with the BRAF fault.”
In the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, Lee underwent further lung surgery which required the removal of several of his ribs in April.
“We are facing our usual battle but during a pandemic it is even harder,” said Cara. “We know it isn’t a great time to launch an appeal, given the impact Covid-19 is having across the world.
“However, time is fast running out for Lee and others like him. This vital research could provide a solution that could save the precious lives of many people, and especially those who we value, love and cherish.
“With help and support, we can change lives, prolong lives and make a real difference.”
This vital research could provide a solution that could save the precious lives of many people
Cara De Faye