A woman from Southport says a clinical trial to treat a brain tumour has given her hope for the future as she celebrates the small milestones she’s able to reach.
Lisa Hefford was busy working in a pharmacy, spending time with friends and looking forward to her daughter’s graduation from University when she started feeling unwell in July 2024.
“I just didn’t feel right” explains Lisa, 53 from Birkdale, near Southport. “I couldn’t put my finger on it but I felt very off and under the weather. Then my eyesight started to feel funny.”
Visits to the opticians and changing the prescription in her glasses didn’t help. So Lisa visited her GP who listened to her concerns. There was no obvious explanation for the way Lisa was feeling, but she was sent for an emergency MRI scan to her head. After many hours of waiting, Lisa was told something had been found on the scan and was admitted to hospital straight away.
After weeks in hospital and numerous tests and scans, Lisa was given the devastating news that she had a brain tumour – a diffuse midline glioma. A glioma is the most common type of brain tumour and in Lisa’s case it was growing between the two halves of the brain.
Lisa also discovered that the brain tumour had a gene mutation, making it very rare.
“I was stunned” says Lisa. “Of course, the day we were finally told the new after weeks of waiting was devastating. I’m a really positive person and had been optimistic but hearing that news was a massive blow.”
Lisa was referred to The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust and saw Dr Shaveta Mehta the very next day.
Lisa says; “Dr Mehta explained my situation – the brain tumour was life limiting and we had limited treatment options. Chemotherapy wasn’t an option with this type of tumour so radiotherapy was the only choice to prolong my life.”
Lisa began six weeks of intense radiotherapy at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre in Liverpool, visiting the centre every day for treatment.
Whilst Lisa didn’t struggle with the treatment, she found the fatigue that can be a side effect of radiotherapy, debilitating. “I was so tired I could barely roll over in bed or go to the toilet. This lasted for months. But the support I had throughout my treatment was amazing both from Clatterbridge staff and my friends and family”
In November Lisa was offered the opportunity for a clinical trial – an experimental treatment developed by researchers to find a new way of treating cancer.
Called ACTION, Lisa had a 66% chance of being in a group of patients that received at least some of the medication, as opposed to placebo drugs.
“The odds of me receiving even some of the medication was fairly high and it was a risk I was willing to take” said Lisa.
Lisa started the trial in November 2024 and has tests and scans every four weeks. “I’ve been tolerating the treatment well and feel the best I have in months so something is definitely working. In fact, my most recent MRI scan actually showed the tumour has reduced in size which is really encouraging.
“Now, I take every day as it comes and celebrate the small wins. When I went for a dentist appointment six months ago, I remember wondering if I would get to my next appointment. When I visited again recently for a check-up, it felt like a huge win as I was still here.”
Dr Shaveta Mehta is a Clinical Oncologist at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre and is leading on Lisa’s care. She said “Clinical trials are extremely useful in providing early access to experimental treatments, as well as helping to shape the future of care for people with brain cancers.
My team and I look forward to continuing to support Lisa to live the highest quality of life possible.”
