2005 and has had mastectomies, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
“I was doing very well until two years ago when I was diagnosed with metastatic bone cancer. I’d only just retired and was diagnosed within a month, so it was life-changing, all our plans had to change and it was difficult,” she said.
“My oncologist wanted me to have a [hormone] treatment called fulvestrant, which isn’t freely available on the NHS but was available on this trial – it wasn’t the trial drug but it was a way of getting this medication. And I had a 50:50 chance of being on the placebo. I’ll know at some point in the future whether I’ve been on the trial drug or not because at some point my disease will progress.
“It makes a difference. Even now, two years later, there are different treatments available. If it gives you more time and there’s more advances in medicine due to trials like this, then it can give you more of an extension – and quality of life as well. It’s very exciting and I’m very lucky to live in Cardiff and have treatment here.”
The trial is now expected to be extended worldwide with the hope it will become a widespread, standard treatment.
Rhian Gibson, charity director at Velindre NHS Trust, said: “Hundreds of people raise money for Velindre every year – around £1m will go on research and clinical trials, the effect that has is not just on the patients here but people throughout Wales, the UK and hopefully, in this case, around the world.”