A father-of-two, who was given just a year to live after his body became ‘riddled’ with cancer, has made a miraculous recovery after volunteering to be a ‘guinea pig’ in drug trials.
Adrian Webb, from Dudley, West Midlands, prepared for the worst when doctors discovered his skin cancer had spread to his lungs, lymph nodes, spleen, bowel, liver and spine.
With few treatment options available to him, Mr Webb volunteered to take part in three clinical trials at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Four years later, despite enduring grueling side effects, including fevers and aching joints, Mr Webb is now cancer free.
Mr Webb, a manager at Headstock Distribution, is now speaking out to encourage other cancer patients to stay positive.
He said: ‘I have a great passion to tell people who are going through the same thing that you can beat this. You can win.’
Adrian Webb, who was given just a year to live after his body was ‘riddled’ with cancer, has made a miraculous recovery after volunteering to be a ‘guinea pig’ in drug trials
With few treatment options available to him, Mr Webb (pictured with his wife Michele and daughter Amelia, 22) volunteered to take part in three revolutionary clinical trials
Four years later, despite enduring grueling complications, including fevers and aching joints, the Headstock Distribution manager is now cancer free (pictured with his son Josh, 25)
‘It’s not my time yet and I’m not giving up’
In November 2013, Mr Webb started the first of his trials, which involved him taking the medications dabrafenib, a cancer-growth blocker, and trametinib, which controls melanoma growth, for 12 months.
This was followed by a further two trials, which included intravenous chemotherapy and drugs that boosted Mr Webb’s immune system.
Despite suffering serious side effects, the trials were a success and Mr Webb is now in remission.
He said: ‘Dr Neil Stevens [the doctor who recommend Mr Webb start the trials] told me “Welcome to the Five Per Cent Club”.
‘I was in the five per cent who had survived.
‘The cancer had been everywhere, but I’m now cancer-free and in remission.
‘It’s not my time yet and I’m not giving up.’
Despite the gruelling treatment Mr Webb had to endure, he always managed to stay positive due to the warmth of other patients.
He said: ‘I remember when I was having radiotherapy. Every morning I would see a young boy, probably about seven years old, coming in for treatment.
‘He would always give me a great big smile and wave. It was the sweetest thing.
‘It would always make me think that no-one should ever complain when this little boy could still smile.’
Mr Webb (with Josh) stayed positive during his therapy due to the warmth of other patients
He is now speaking out to encourage other cancer sufferers not to lose hope during treatment
As well as taking two cancer drugs for 12 months, he also had to endure chemotherapy
‘You can beat this. You can win.’
Mr Webb has raised more than £16,000 for Cancer Research UK, even completing the Wolf Run, a 10k obstacle course over tough terrain, during his chemotherapy.
He has also toured the country giving talks about his cancer battle and the importance of having a positive attitude, eating well and keeping fit during treatment.
Mr Webb, who has been nominated for a Pride of Birmingham Award by Cancer Research UK for his fundraising efforts, said: ‘I have a great passion to tell people who are going through the same thing that you can beat this. You can win.
‘I have a fantastic network of friends and family. How can I let them down? I couldn’t do that. I have to fight.’
He completed the Wolf Run, a 10k obstacle course, during his chemotherapy treatment
Mr Webb became aware something was wrong when his wife noticed a blemish on his back
His skin cancer later spread to his lungs, lymph nodes, spleen, bowel, liver and spine
‘My wife saved my life’
Mr Webb first became aware something was wrong when his wife Michele noticed a blemish on his back.
He aid: ‘My wife Michele saved my life. The mole was right in the centre of my back. I was totally ignorant of it and I was very closely running out of time.
‘My wife noticed that it was red and inflamed around the edge, and she booked me an appointment at the GP.
‘I had no choice about it really! I would have probably ignored it, being a typical man.’
Mr Webb had the mole removed during the GP appointment, with the blemish being sent off for a biopsy.
He later got a call from his GP, telling him he had cancer.
Mr Webb said: ‘I was in the office on my own when I got the call. She asked me if I was sitting down, and I asked her why.
‘Then she told me I had skin cancer. I was devastated. No-one ever expects that call to be to them.
‘I was referred to City Hospital, where they cut a big chunk of meat out of my back to try to prevent it spreading.
‘That was precautionary. They thought it was just in that area.’
‘I cried like a toddler’
Doctors were initially confident all of Mr Webb’s cancer had been removed, however, a few months later, while lifting weights at home, he discovered a lump the size of a golf ball under his arm.
He later underwent surgery to remove the lymph glands in his chest, followed by radiotherapy.
Yet the worse was yet to come, with Mr Webb being told he had stage-4 melanoma that had quickly spread to his lungs, liver, spleen, bowel and spine.
He was referred to specialist Dr Stevens, who told Mr Webb he may have just 12 months to live.
Mr Webb said: ‘I thought it was all over. I could hardly breathe. I cried like a toddler.
‘But I’m a positive person so once I’d stopped blubbing I shook myself off and asked what they could do.
‘Dr Stevens saved my life. He said, if I was willing, there was a new trial he could apply to put me on.
‘I told him I would try anything and to sign me up.’