A Southport Grandma who had to learn to speak and eat again after invasive cancer treatment is urging people to back a campaign that helped save her life.

Sandie Griffin was given the devastating news she had cancer in June 2020, but is now in remission after taking part in a clinical trial. 

The trial was funded by Stand Up To Cancer – a joint fundraising campaign from Cancer Research UK and Channel 4 – and Sandie hopes her story will inspire people to raise money to help make the next cancer breakthrough happen.

The 72-year-old was sat having breakfast at her kitchen table 1 morning when she noticed a small lump on the side of her neck.

The following week it had grown in size, so she went to see her GP. Following a series of tests, Sandie was diagnosed with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma – a type of head and neck cancer commonly known as throat cancer. 

Sandie’s treatment included a gruelling 9-hour operation at Aintree University Hospital, which involved the removal of lymph nodes in her neck and laser treatment on her tongue.

Afterwards she couldn’t eat solid foods for several weeks and had to learn to speak and eat again, before signing up for the PATHOS trial which involved six weeks of radiotherapy at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre.

Due to the COVID-19 restrictions at the time, Sandie had to go through all her treatment alone.

Sandie, who lives in Southport with her husband Mike, 67, and 21-year-old granddaughter River, said:- “It was such a shock when they said it was cancer. I couldn’t believe it. And it was so hard being totally alone, without any of my loved ones with me. But it definitely made me braver, I had no choice, I had no-1 to cry to.

“Then I lived on meal replacement drinks while re-introducing soft foods and had to learn to talk again. I still have to massage my neck every day to stop any build-up of fluid and it has changed my sense of taste – I hate chocolate now! And some things I used to hate; I really like now. I still find it hard to swallow certain foods, but it’s all a small price to pay for my life.

“I was told I was in remission in July 2021, and I am now on 6-monthly checks. At the back of my mind, I do worry about it coming back and I live 6 months at a time now. When I was diagnosed, I was over 20 stone, and I was determined to lose weight after finishing treatment. I lost 2 stone easily but plucked up the courage to join Slimming World and I have now lost nearly another 5 stone, and I was awarded Woman of the Year 2023 in my group.”

The retired Job Centre manager added:- “Success stories like mine would not be possible without research into better and kinder treatments. I want to raise awareness, and to show that cancer can be diagnosed early, and it doesn’t have to be a death sentence. That’s why I’m lending my heartfelt support to this vitally important campaign. Now is the moment for everyone across Southport to Stand Up To Cancer.”  

With around 44,100 people diagnosed with cancer every year in the North West, the need to make faster advances is clear.  

Every action big or small could make a difference. Stand Up To Cancer is helping to transform the landscape of cancer therapy. Since its launch in 2012, the campaign has raised more than £93 million, funding 64 clinical trials and research projects involving more than 13,000 cancer patients.  

This includes the PATHOS trial which Sandie benefited from. Stand Up To Cancer is supporting the UK-wide arm of PATHOS, an international trial that’s testing less intensive treatment options for people after their surgery. PATHOS hopes to find a way to improve patients’ quality of life after treatment, without affecting the chance of their cancer returning. It’s projected to be the largest ever clinical trial for head and neck cancer. 

Stand Up To Cancer takes developments from the lab and accelerates them into new tests and treatments that could help save the lives of more people like Sandie.   

Now she is calling on gym bunnies and sofa surfers alike to flex their fundraising muscles in aid of Stand Up To Cancer by getting sponsored to do 100 squats every day throughout next month.  

Participants can adapt the challenge to suit their fitness level and complete their squats anytime, anywhere – all at once or throughout the day. By the end of the 30 days, they will have clocked-up a total of 3,000 squats to help power life-saving research.   

Alternatively, less energetic folk can choose to donate, raise money in their own way, or pick from a host of fun-filled ideas with a free fundraising pack available online for inspiration and support.   

Cancer Research UK spokesperson for the North West, Jemma Humphreys said:- “Thanks to our supporters, our researchers are working tirelessly to help more people like Sandie survive - from developing a molecule to super-charge the immune system to attack tumours, to re-programming viruses to seek and destroy cancer cells. But we must go further and faster. 1-in-2 of us will get cancer in our lifetime. All of us can help beat it. That’s why we’re asking everyone to Stand Up To Cancer with us. Whether it’s choosing to donate, fundraise, or tackle the ups and downs of our squats challenge, if thousands of us take a stand we’ll speed up the progress of vital research – meaning more people live longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.” 
 
The Stand Up To Cancer campaign will continue throughout October, with a collection of special programming airing on Channel 4 later in the month and culminating in a night of live television on Friday, 3 November 2023.  
 
To donate or fundraise visit su2c.org.uk  

BOX-OUT:- WAYS TO STAND UP TO CANCER  

Cancer is the number 1 cause of death in the UK and in North West, around 44,100 people are diagnosed with the disease every year.  

In the 1970s, 1 in 4 people in the UK survived their disease for 10 years or more. Today it’s 2 in 4.

Stand Up To Cancer wants to speed up the progress of life-saving research to help see 3 in 4 people survive their cancer by 2034.  

People in Southport can help make this a reality by:-   

·         Donating 

·         Taking on the 100 squats a day challenge in November  

·         Fundraising in their own way 

·         Shopping to beat the disease with Stand Up To Cancer merchandise available online    

Get involved at su2c.org.uk