Patient stories
Find out about the impact our work has on patients.
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“If not for the hundreds of millions raised and invested in cancer research, I might not be here today” – Jennifer’s story
Jennifer Hollington, 58, who lives in Canada, was diagnosed with Stage 3c ovarian cancer in July 2020 and subsequently learned that she carries the BRCA2 gene mutation. She was treated with the drug olaparib, the discovery and development of which was underpinned by research at the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR). On World Cancer Day, she reveals how the work of scientists at the ICR in London is benefitting cancer patients like her beyond the UK.

‘We need a new language for talking about stage 4 cancer’ – Kate’s story
Kate Wilson was diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer at the age of 43 and discovered she was carrying a BRCA gene mutation. She was prescribed a targeted drug called olaparib and five years on the cancer is stable. Here she explains why, thanks to new treatments, advanced cancer patients like her are navigating a new landscape, one where the language we use has yet to catch up.

“Cancer research is the reason I am here” – Sonia’s breast cancer story
Sonia Bhandal was just 14 when she lost her mum to secondary breast cancer. Then at the age of 28, she found a malignant lump in her own breast. Shortly afterwards she discovered that she carries the BRCA2 gene mutation, putting her at an increased risk of developing various cancers. Today, exactly 29 years since scientists at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, identified the BRCA2 gene, Sonia, now 36, shares her story.

“Hearing the words ‘you have cancer’ blew me away, but I was determined to beat it” – Natasha’s story
When Natasha, 51, was told she had stage 2 DCIS breast cancer in November 2018, she became the third woman in her family to receive such a diagnosis. Now nearly six years on and cancer free, Natasha shares her story.

"I feel incredibly lucky to be here 12 years on from my diagnosis" – Natalie’s ovarian cancer story
Natalie Pearce, 52, was diagnosed with stage 3c ovarian cancer in November 2012. She subsequently discovered she carries the BRCA1 gene mutation, putting her at a higher risk of developing various cancers. Following surgery and treatment, Natalie has been cancer free since April 2013.
“We hope that continued research will bring about kinder treatments for children in the future” – Jesse’s story
Jesse was two years old when he was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, a type of blood and bone marrow cancer, in November 2023. Now, a year since his diagnosis and thankfully in remission, Jesse’s mum, Polly, shares their story to mark World Children’s Day.

"I was hoping for 12-18 months… here I am 14 years later" – Sue’s ovarian cancer story
Sue Vincent was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2007 when she was 54. In 2010 she discovered it had spread and was inoperable. She was told she had just months to live, until a new targeted treatment changed everything. Sue lives with her husband Pete in Solihull, Birmingham – between them they have four daughters and five grandchildren, with another on the way next year.
“I’m glad to be working on something that makes a difference to people’s lives” – Jessica's cancer research career journey
Dr Jessica May Hislop joined The Institute of Cancer Research as a Bioinformatician in the Houlston Lab in the Genetics and Epidemiology division. Together with her colleagues, she is working towards understanding how mutations in our DNA lead to cancer. But her career almost took an entirely different direction.

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