Jason Walker, a 57-year-old painting business owner from Lancashire, has become the first patient to take part in a new clinical trial at The Christie in Manchester. Living with incurable multiple myeloma, he hopes the treatment will allow him to walk his daughter Abbey down the aisle in Montenegro in May 2027.
Diagnosis and relapse
Jason was diagnosed with stage three multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer, in February 2014, after experiencing persistent back pain and double vision. At first, he thought the symptoms were signs of ageing, but they worsened. The cancer had spread across his entire body, causing chronic bone pain, particularly around the pelvic region, and was also found in his pituitary gland, where it was pulling on his optic nerve.
He underwent chemotherapy, but his case was deemed incurable. Two days after completing treatment, he had a heart attack, caused by a blood clot due to chemotherapy. He recovered, and then had two successful stem cell transplants, returning to his 'old' life, playing squash and spending time with his family.
New trial at The Christie
In November 2025, lumps were spotted, and tests confirmed he had relapsed. He tried a three-drug combination, but his body was unable to tolerate it, to the point where he could no longer go up the stairs. Jason was referred to The Christie, where he became the first patient to take part in the TOPICAL clinical trial. The trial involves an anti-inflammatory drug which can reduce the severe side effects associated with a new form of immunotherapy treatment, such as high fever, dangerously low blood pressure and breathing difficulties. In some cases, the effects can be life-threatening.
Jason believes he'll be on the drug forever, or until it stops working, and is currently only a few weeks into treatment. Although he has a long way to go, the results so far have been promising.
Hopes for the future
He told creatorzine.com: "I feel very lucky to be on the trial at The Christie. I hope it works, not just for myself, but for the wider myeloma warriors out there. Any hope in a difficult situation is good. It's like I've won something better than the lottery. I'm not only confident I'll walk Abbey down the aisle next May, but I think I'll be around for at least another 10 years."
Jason said: "I need to get through this, as I'm giving her away. I want to be well enough to walk my beautiful daughter down the aisle. It's every father's dream to give their little girl away. And for her to be happy and settled with the man she loves. I can't wait for that moment to see her in her wedding dress - it will be emotional." He added: "I try to keep a positive attitude and laugh about cancer. But I do sometimes get mad and swear at it. Cancer doesn't care, though. And neither do I - it won't get to me."
