Supporting Marks journey

My brother Mark collapsed in July 2021 followed by a number of seizures. He spent a week in hospital before being diagnosed with a brain tumour. Our initial reaction was all is well this can be treated, so many people have had these and recovered. He went on to have a craniotomy (whilst awake) in December 21, only to be told the shocking news that they found the tumour to be a Glioblastoma multiforme wildtype (grade 4 brain tumour).

He was soon to be told his condition was terminal, incurable, and that they were unsure of his life expectancy, it could be 2 years it could be 5 or 10 at the very best. Mark is a trouper and has been so brave throughout the only treatments available on the NHS. He has gone through 6 rounds of chemotherapy and a 6-week course of dual chemotherapy and radiotherapy. He gets a checkup every 3 months where he gets his bloods taken and scans. This week we heard the devastating news that the cancer is back. He is going to have further surgery but there is little more the NHS can do to prolong his life.

We have researched and we have been accepted by Northwest Biotherapeutics who can work on a vaccine by taking cells from the tumour and mixing it with his immune cells in his blood to make an individual vaccine for him. This treatment will work alongside the chemo that that he can hopefully get after his next surgery. We have missed out on the UK trials and are asking for funding to help us support this programme. Every penny will help to keep this brave, beautiful, person with us for as long as we can.

https://www.thebraintumourcharity.org/media-centre/news/research-news/trial-finds-dcvax-l-can-prolong-the-lives-of-those-living-with-a-glioblastoma/