Cancer Research: Cancer Stories

Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading independent charity dedicated to cancer research. Cancer Research carries out scientific research to help prevent, diagnose and treat cancer. They have discovered new ways to beat cancer that together have saved hundreds of thousands of lives across the world. Cancer Research’s TV campaigns feature real people – cancer survivors, patients and their loved ones illustrate the impact that Cancer Research UK has had on their lives. They have also featured cancer doctors in the past, whose research is funded by the organisation, to illustrate the progress they are making. Alex Warne Alex, 14, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 2003 when he was just six. His parents took him to hospital after he lost energy and had aches in his legs and he quickly started a year of intensive chemotherapy treatment. It was an exceptionally difficult time for the family as, three weeks after Alex’s diagnosis, his grandfather was told he had terminal pancreatic cancer and passed away five months later. After the intensive treatment, Alex underwent two and a quarter years of maintenance chemotherapy during which he had to be in a wheelchair at times. Alex also had to have his feet straightened as the chemotherapy had overstretched his Achilles tendons. Alex is now back at school, taking part in a wide range of sports and has also developed his writing skills. He wrote a story called The Heaven Flower which was published in 2010. Mum Julie said: “Alex is such an amazing teenager. I want other kids who are going through cancer to be inspired by Alex.” “But we will never have our carefree life back again – if there is even a slight problem of illness with Alex, I switch to the day of diagnosis again.”