Grandad diagnosed with stage 4 cancer becomes disease free

By Izzy Hawksworth

A grandad with advanced lung cancer, which often leaves patients dead within four months has become free of the disease after being treated with a new immunotherapy drug.

Jeff Cook, 76, was told he had stage four cancer in 2019 after he realized he had a sore on the left side of his chest that wasn't getting any better.

Around 50% of people who are diagnosed with stage four cancer die within four months of their diagnosis and only 5% of patients will be alive five or more years later, according to Cancer Research UK.

Jeff was told that he needed radiotherapy to target the tumor directly but could also try a new treatment called pembrolizumab.

Pembrolizumab is a type of immunotherapy which blocks a protein called D-1 on T cells, which then helps the immune system identify and attack cancer cells.

The drug was previously deemed by the NHS as being too expensive as it would cost around $84,000 per patient, but an agreement was made with the manufacturer to reduce the cost.

After having the treatment for around two years, Jeff was told that he is officially cancer-free and is now able to "live life to the full."

The grandad-of-two said: "Considering I had such an advanced cancer, and the survival statistics were not in my favor, I feel like the pembrolizumab has been a medical miracle.

"I’m able to live life to the full as a result."

Jeff, who has two sons called Gavin and Martin, gave up smoking more than 20 years ago.

Towards the end of 2018, he realized that he had a sore on the left side of his chest which wasn't getting better - despite being prescribed antibiotics.

He was referred to a a chest consultant at Leighton Hospital in Crewe, Cheshire, where he was later diagnosed with stage four cancer.

Dr. David Woolf then suggested that Jeff could try having pembrolizumab treatment, which was fairly new at the time.

Jeff, of Warrington, Cheshire, said: "The staff were very welcoming.

"The receptionist always gave me a cheery welcome, and before the COVID-19 pandemic, we even got tea and biscuits from one of the volunteers.

"The nurses always treated me well, too.

"The pembrolizumab was kind to my body, and I had no noticeable side effects from the treatment.

"After three or four treatments, I was leading a normal life again.

"I was on pembrolizumab for two years, during which time I had regular blood tests, review appointments and CT scans.

"The review appointments moved to being on the telephone during the pandemic."

Jeff is now able to go on holiday with his wife of over 50 years Carol and also takes part in a fortnightly quiz at a local cricket club.

He said: "I’m incredibly grateful to Dr Woolf and all the NHS staff who have helped me during my treatment and to the scientists and researchers who helped to develop such a wonderful life-saving drug."

Dr. Woolf said: “I am delighted that Jeff has had such a positive response to his treatment and is now cancer-free six years after his diagnosis of stage four lung cancer and living life to the full.

“Stage four lung cancer remains very serious with average survival figures of less than a year.

"However new treatments such as immunotherapy are a game changer for some of our patients.

"We still need to do better at diagnosing patients earlier though and continuing to develop new and better treatments.”