Beating blood cancer: It takes research
Every world-first treatment and life saved takes huge collective endeavour. Dr Richard Francis tells us how research is getting us closer and closer to beating blood cancer.
Two years ago, Farman had never heard of myeloma. He was in his early 30s, focused on his career and prioritising his health and fitness. Then, everything changed. “I didn’t suspect anything at the time”.
After persistent injuries, he found himself in hospital where a haematology specialist broke the news. Farman had myeloma – an incurable but treatable blood cancer.
Within days, Farman started chemotherapy. The side effects were relentless – high fevers, extreme fatigue, multiple hospital stays – he eventually needed a stem cell transplant. “It was a cycle, chemo, then A&E to treat me for high fever and nausea. I was in there for my birthday.”
The nurses came and sang me ‘Happy Birthday’ – I was curled up in a ball in bed. The treatment is harsh. We need something better.
Farman knows what blood cancer takes – the treatments for myeloma available today are life-extending but can be brutal. We know what it takes to create a future where kinder, more effective treatments allow patients to live a better quality of life.
Dr Sarah Dimeloe
Better treatments take cutting edge research
Researchers like Dr Sarah Dimeloe are working to make that future a reality.
T cells are an important part of the immune system, as they attack cancer cells. Myeloma develops in the bone marrow, where T cells take up fats and don’t work as well. Now Dr Dimeloe’s research team will test a range of drugs to see if they prevent T cells from taking up these fats and improve how they destroy myeloma cells.
Some of these drugs are already used to treat other diseases and could be ‘repurposed’ for myeloma and progress to clinic relatively quickly.
We know what it takes to beat blood cancer
Our new research strategy highlights three core priority areas of prevention, early diagnosis and predicting outcomes, and developing new treatments.
The world’s best minds are focused on the task ahead
This is just one of over 100 research projects we’re funding across the country, that are delivering real benefits for people with blood cancer. We know beating blood cancer will take the hard work of all our researchers, and over the past 10 years alone we’ve supported 468 scientists in pursuit of this goal.
We also know it will take increased investment in research, which is why we've committed to fund £70 million in research over the next five years. We’re funding research into all blood cancer types to ensure no one is left behind.
We’re striving for a world where people like Farman are diagnosed earlier, have access to better, kinder treatments, and where possible, could be prevented from developing blood cancer in the first place. It takes research, and your support, to get there.
Dr Richard Francis
Deputy Director of Research