A British man who was given nine months to live after being diagnosed with brain cancer is “doing well” after taking part in a world-first immunotherapy trial.
Ben Trotman, 41, was diagnosed with glioblastoma – the most aggressive form of brain cancer – in October 2022. The following January he participated in a clinical trial, where he received immunotherapy prior to the standard treatment of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. He married fiancée, Emily, the same month.
Trotman had a strong reaction to the treatment and was hospitalised with an extreme headache, which doctors believe was a sign the treatment was working. His latest scan showed no evidence of high-grade disease in his tumour.
“We obviously don’t know what the future holds but having had the immunotherapy treatment and getting these encouraging scan results has given Emily and I a bit of hope,” said Trotman.
The trial was run by Dr Paul Mulholland of University College London, which hopes to open more trials.
Image: Ben and Emily on their wedding day. Credit: University College London Hospitals
