FOxTROT 3 clinical trial: David’s cancer experience

David, from Leeds in West Yorkshire, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2023 after experiencing breathlessness, one of the less common symptoms of bowel cancer.

There were obstacles in his route to diagnosis and during treatment his cancer was found to be at stage 3. The news was difficult, but he was determined to keep a positive mindset for his wife of 30 years, Anne, and their son, Nathan.

Mr Richard Baker, David’s consultant, recommended FOxTROT 3, a clinical bowel cancer trial funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research. “I was eligible for the trial,” David said. “And I’m a big believer that if you don’t sign up for these things, progress is never made.”

As part of the trial, David had two rounds of chemotherapy before surgery to remove his tumour. Before his operation, scans confirmed the tumour had shrunk by one third. This made surgery more straightforward, less invasive, and there was no need for a stoma bag.

Despite these positive steps towards recovery, David found himself still in hospital last Christmas Day after becoming ill with pneumonia after surgery. He was one of 11,600* people across the region to spend last Christmas Day in hospital.

When he was strong enough, he began further chemotherapy. Having recovered from surgery and four more rounds of post-surgery chemotherapy under FOxTROT 3, David is now having six-monthly checks to hopefully confirm he remains cancer-free.

David is keen to share his experience of FOxTROT 3 and the importance of early diagnosis: “Speak up if something doesn’t feel right. Many people don’t want to ‘bother’ their GP, particularly when you hear about the backlogs and staff shortages in the media. But this isn’t a cold we’re talking about. Push for that GP appointment, even if you’re not displaying the ‘classic’ signs.”

He explained what this Christmas means to him:

David is now supporting ‘Help Yorkshire Shine’, the Yorkshire Cancer Research Christmas Appeal. He is dedicating a Yorkshire Star to Mr Baker and another to Anne, for her “unflinching support” and being "my absolute rock”.

“This Christmas, I’m shining a light on the research and doctors that have changed my life,” he said. “We cannot thank Mr Baker enough for what he has done to give us all hope for the future and me a quality of life I could only have dreamed of at the very start of my journey.”

Mr Baker responded to David’s Yorkshire Star dedication:

David is one of 600 people every week in Yorkshire who are told they have cancer. Sadly, Yorkshire is one of the regions hardest hit by cancer, but together, we can change this.

*NHS England, Bed Availability and Occupancy, Q3 2023/24 (includes both day and overnight use combined, and all reasons for being in hospital on Christmas Day, including cancer)

**Impact Report, Yorkshire Cancer Research, November 2024