County Durham farmer and father of two, Leo Moralee, was diagnosed with follicular lymphoma, a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2021.
Leo says: “To begin with, I was diagnosed as low grade and didn’t receive any treatment, but the cancer was aggressive and things deteriorated quickly. I have an active job but, within a year, I was on my knees and needed a wheelchair.
“Different types of standard chemo weren’t effective for me and neither was CAR T-cell immunotherapy. At this point things felt desperate and I thought I had no options left. How can I even explain that feeling?
“Then I was told there was a possible trial place available and it was like someone turned a light back on.
“My drug trial, glofitamab, was successful and I had far less side effects than I’d had on the standard treatment. I’ve now been in remission for two years and one week, and words can’t express how I feel about the drug trials team.
“Their passion to improve cancer treatments is amazing. They light up with the prospect of a positive new treatment on the horizon. It’s impossible not to feel inspired by them.
“I’m grateful for my treatment but I’m also proud to know that my trial, and the data they’re still gathering from me, is doing something to help for the future.
The new Sir Bobby Robson Institute is going to help even more people to take part in cancer trials like mine and that, ultimately, means more lives will be saved.
