Avastin - Thank you all soooooo much

Hey everyone! Jo here, James's sister!

Most of you will know James’s story by now…if not, the short version is that he has an incurable Brain Tumour, diagnosed a little over four years ago. (You can read every detail of his journey in his fantastic blog; https://anaplasticastrocytoma.home.blog)

A few months ago, James qualified for a place on a Clinical Trial…family and Specialists alike, we were all full of hope that the trial drug would work wonders and stop the tumour in its tracks….this could be a game changer!

However, after just five weeks, James was told it wasn’t working and that the tumour was growing at pace.

It was a real blow, especially given that the only alternative was to go back onto a Chemotherapy line that hadn’t really impacted the tumour the last time James was on it. At this point, the Oncology team ay Guy’s asked James to consider whether he even wanted to go through any more Chemo or just try and better manage his symptoms…a tough day.

There were a few options presented to us for symptom management. Of particular interest were drugs called Avastin and Sativex, neither available on the NHS due to their high price tag, but both licensed and approved for use in the UK.

Avastin works by blocking the growth of new blood vessels that cancer cells depend on to grow and function, reducing swelling and oedema in the brain, thus reducing symptoms. Sativex is a cannabis-based spray containing both THC and CBD. It helps to control seizure activity in the brain.

After much thought and discussion, James has opted for both of these drugs, and the results have been astounding. Before Avastin, James struggled to speak more than a few words fluently, he couldn’t walk, and his face had developed a palsy on his right hand. All of these symptoms are MASSIVELY improved, meaning an infinitely better quality of life for our lad. He is still struggling with his right arm and hand, but we hope that this might also improve with more Avastin in the system.

Whilst the NHS have been absolutely wonderful (we have had the support of an amazing team of specialists and nurses over the four years and we will be forever grateful), we now need a bit of bolstering from outside of the NHS.

Lots of our wonderful family and friends have asked if they can help contribute towards these new treatments. We have been reluctant thus far; after all, what are our ‘rainy day savings’ for if not something like this!? However, Avastin has a price tag of over £4000 per cycle…(with a cycle being every 2-3 weeks), and Sativex is £500 per month; with prices like this, the rainy day fund might not stretch as far as the storm demands, so I have set up this Go Fund Me page. Please do not feel pressured or obliged to contribute, especially as so many of you amazing people have donated to James and to the Brain Tumour Charities in the past; however if anyone would like to bung a few quid in the pot, then I thought this was the easiest way.

Thank you all so very, very much for all your love and support – James and Team Hudd continue to be blown away by your kindness and generosity.