Patient stories

Yvonne Diaz, 55, was diagnosed with stage 4 ALK-positive lung cancer in August 2021. She works in Communications and lives in Holland Park, London with her husband and twin sons, aged 17.

Michael Parry was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at the age of 59. Fortunately, his disease was detected early – and after surgery and chemotherapy, he is now planning for the years ahead with his family. Here he tells his story and explains why more research into hard-to-treat cancers is so vital.

As a fit and healthy former firefighter, Harry Hall didn’t think there was anything to worry about when he developed a lump in his neck. But after his wife persuaded him to go to the doctors, tests diagnosed Harry with tongue cancer. Here, Harry explains why he wants to raise funds to support our vital research by running the London Marathon.

Mark was diagnosed with kidney cancer in April 2021. After surgery to remove the tumour and affected kidney, he was initially told there was no evidence that the disease had spread. However, a biopsy of the tumour showed it was an aggressive type of cancer, prone to returning.

Andrew Wicks, a PhD student at The Institute of Cancer Research, knows firsthand what it’s like to face cancer. Diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) at the age of 12, he went through years of treatment before getting the all-clear. Now, wanting to help others with cancer, he is carrying out research in our Breast Cancer Research Division. Here, he shares his story.

Tommy Edwards was just four years old when his parents noticed symptoms suggesting something wasn’t right. Tests revealed he had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Following nearly three years of treatment, Tommy is now looking towards the future. His parents, Chris and Jo Edwards, have set up a charity to fund research into ALL. In this blog, Chris explains how groundbreaking work by scientists at The Institute of Cancer Research is giving them hope for the future.

Erin Kennedy MBE is a British Paralympic coxswain. In 2022, at the age of 29, she was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer, and was successfully treated. She later found she has a mutation in her BRCA1 gene which means she has a higher risk of her cancer returning. In the summer of 2023, she supported our Finish Cancer campaign. Here she tells her story.

Hannah Tarplee was four years old when her parents noticed a lump in her tummy which turned out to be a cancerous tumour. Despite intensive treatment, it became untreatable, and Hannah died just seven months after the lump was discovered. The Little Princess Trust, which was set up in her memory, funds our research, as one of our valued family charity partners. Her mum, Wendy Tarplee-Morris, explains how Hannah’s legacy is now giving hair and hope to thousands of children and young people.