Brain tumour patient had nine months to live - but new treatment saved his life

09 March 2024 , 21:19

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Ben Trotman was given nine months to live (Image: linkedin)

Medical marvel Ben Trotman had a terminal brain tumour known as a glioblastoma. Told by doctors he'd likely only have nine months, the 41-year-old brought forward his wedding to fiancée Emily so they could still walk down the aisle.

Glioblastomas are an aggressive form of cancer affecting 3,000 Brits each year, and while treatable with chemotherapy and radiotherapy, the tumours are known to return and be fatal and was the cause of Labour politician Dame Tessa Jowell's death in 2018. But Mr Trotman, an investment banker at JP Morgan, claims he's now able to live a normal life again after trialling the "lucky break" therapy.

Brain cancer specialist Dr Paul Mulholland led the trial, planning to give patients a course of immunotherapy before routine cancer treatments. The therapy supercharges the body's immune system in preparation to destroy cancerous cells.

Dame Tessa Jowell died of a glioblastoma in 2018 (PA)

But while the trial was unable to go ahead, Mr Trotman ended up undergoing it anyway as the only volunteer. What happened left doctors stunned, resulting in a remarkable recovery which was "previously unheard of" for his condition.

Treatment for glioblastomas has been more or less unchanged since the early 2000s, but Dr Mulholland said Mr Trotman's results were so impressive it may just mean promising news for future patients.- "I believe we have the tools to cure it," the UCL-based specialist told The Times.

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"We need to intervene early to give patients the best chance for longer-term survival. It is important not just for brain cancer patients but for all the other left-behind cancers with poor survival, like pancreatic cancer."

Fewer than 5% of glioblastoma patients survive longer than five years after diagnosis, according to the Brain Tumour Charity. The deadly cancer, which is also what killed The Wanted singer Tom Parker, is known to double in size in seven weeks - compared with lung cancer which does so in about 14.

The trial, which was funded by the Jon Moulton Charity Trust, left Mr Trotman with a severe headache, which doctors believe was a side effect of his immune system "attacking" the cancer. Dr Mulholland has now urged for the same approach to be taken in future trials.

Susie Beever