St Helens mum is one of the first to receive new cancer treatment

Beverley Joyce, of Blackbrook, was given the form of cancer therapy designed to help her own immune system fight the disease as she took part in the MOAT clinical research trial at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre.  

She hopes the therapy, combined with surgery and radiotherapy, will kill off the tumours which have attacked her mouth and neck. 

Whilst making preparations for her 60th birthday party in May last year, Beverley noticed the ulcers in her mouth were not healing, with her daughter, Kim, detecting that her mum was not speaking normally. 

Beverley and her daughter Kim (Image: Contributed)

Following a series of tests after contacting her GP, Beverley was given the cancer diagnosis. 

Beverley said: "I was floored when I was told it was cancer.

"I have been healthy all my life and I’ve never smoked, so when they said it was head and neck cancer I was really shocked."

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After receiving the devastating diagnosis, Beverley was offered the option to join the clinical research trial as the cancer had spread to her throat and lymph nodes, increasing the possibility of secondary cancer.

Mode Of Action Transgene study involves giving the patient a modified virus with four additional genes, designed to multiply only in the cancer and activate a type of white blood cell, called T-cells.

These help the immune system to destroy the cancer cells and kill other cells, called fibroblasts, which are thought to help cancers grow. Normal cells are not affected. 

After three rounds of the therapy within five days, injected through a vein, Beverley had to wait a couple of weeks before undergoing surgery at Aintree University Hospital to remove the tumours and affected lymph nodes.

Beverley's back teeth were extracted and a part of her tongue was also taken out before it was reconstructed using tissue from her leg. 

She added: "When I was told about the trial, I thought it was amazing; they explained it all so simply.

"Why would you say no? I know it is a new treatment but is only helping my own immune system to have a better chance at fighting the cancer. It seemed very natural to me.

"We don’t know how things will turn out with it yet, but whatever happens the research will help someone else in the future."

Beverley is happy the treatment will help other people in the future (Image: Contributed)

Beverley has now finished her treatment after 30 rounds of radiotherapy at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre and is having speech therapy. 

Kim, Beverley's daughter, said: "It was such a shock when mum had the diagnosis.

"I’d never known her to be unwell as she had been healthy all her life, but everyone moved so quickly to treat her when she was told it was cancer, and she has had very few side-effects.

"Some people find radiotherapy very difficult, but mum has smashed it.

"She has been treated like a VIP at Clatterbridge – the care has been wonderful.

"During the whole process, mum has been very comfortable and has felt very safe in their hands."