Graham Monkhouse, from Langwathby near Penrith, is a farmer and former professional cricketer and footballer.
Aged 71, Graham is married, has three children and played cricket for Surrey for eight years, clocking up 168 first team appearances, 276 first team wickets and 1,553 runs. He was diagnosed with multiple myeloma after a ‘well man check’ at his GPs surgery.
Six years ago, completely out of the blue, he was diagnosed with a blood cancer. After two months on standard chemotherapy, he took up the opportunity to take part in a clinical drugs trial.
In the North East, just five patients initially took part in Graham’s trial, which was delivered via the Late Phase and Haematology Trials Team at the Northern Centre for Cancer Care, Freeman Hospital, in Newcastle.
Graham remains on a trial, receiving a maintenance dose of chemotherapy every month as well as an immunotherapy boost.
He explains: “I had some standard treatment then my consultant talked to me about a new trial available at the Freeman Hospital. It was a big decision to take but I’ve not regretted it. It was the best way forward.”
I’m very well looked after by the trials team. I have great faith in them all and I feel like I’m getting the best treatment available anywhere.
“When I was first told I had blood cancer, I thought the worst. My doctor then told me that 21 years ago, when he was starting out in his profession, he would have been telling me I only had three years left.
“Right now, they can’t cure it but the longer I live, the more likely it is they’ll find a cure. That was in the back of my head when they offered me the chance to go on a trial.
“This is the way research progresses, if not for me, for someone in the future.
“We’re making progress and that’s why The Sir Bobby Robson Institute is so important. More trials mean more progress, it’s that simple. And that progress will save lives.”
