A CANCER survivor who took part in a clinical trial in Southampton hopes her contributions can help fight the disease.

Ali Richards was recently given the all-clear after first being diagnosed with throat cancer over six years ago.   

She had originally found a lump in her neck which she had thought was a cyst but turned out to be tumour.

The 60-year-old underwent radiotherapy and chemotherapy which left her struggling to swallow and needing to be fed through a tube in her stomach.

Having survived the disease, she joined a Southampton-based trial to stop people going through the treatment that she did in the future.

And, so that more people can be cured. 

On International Clinical Trials Day, earlier this month, she joined forces with University Hospital Southampton, the Southampton clinical trials unit and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

If formed part of the national 'Trial Blazers' campaign, to urge more people to ask their doctor or healthcare professional about taking part in research.

She said: “I'm proud to have been involved in a trial of a new treatment and hope my participation will help to make a difference so that we can help stop this horrible disease for most, if not all people with cancer.” 

Ali, Poole in Dorset, added: “The treatment was really brutal. 

"It leaves you in pain and feeling very weak, tired and ill. Unfortunately, it was not completely successful and in 2017 I had surgery to remove some lymph nodes in my neck which set my recovery back again."

Professor Saul Faust, Director of the NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility, said: "Clinical trials are a vital step in improving how we treat cancers like Ali’s, as well as many other diseases.

"International Clinical Trials Day is a chance to showcase the incredible work that is being done by our research teams across the region and celebrate the involvement of all our trial participants who make trials possible, and it is wonderful to see previous participants like Ali doing so well."

For more information, visit www.clinicalresearch.uhs.nhs.uk.

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support in reading the Daily Echo.

Subscribing to the Echo means you have unrestricted access to the latest news, features and Saints coverage - all with an advertising-light website.

You will also have full access to Saintsplus, your new home for Southampton FC tactical analysis, features and much, much more.

Don't take my word for it - subscribe here to see for yourself.

Follow the latest breaking news in the Southampton area by joining our Facebook group - Southampton News - Breaking News and Incidents

Follow the latest court and crime news on our dedicated Facebook group - Hampshire Court and Crime News