Kevin Mortimer, 51, from Liverpool, has been told his prostate cancer is undetectable three years after receiving a terminal diagnosis. He described breaking the news to his 11-year-old daughter as "one of the most difficult things I have ever had to do".
Mr Mortimer received his advanced prostate cancer diagnosis on his daughter's 11th birthday. He was informed that the cancer had spread to his bones and lungs, and that his condition was "terminal". However, three years on, his cancer is undetectable after undergoing triplet therapy — a groundbreaking approach that uses three different treatments simultaneously.
Triplet therapy success
Mr Mortimer said: "Sitting with my 11-year-old daughter and the toy elephant she has had since she was a baby, to tell her that I had terminal cancer, was one of the most difficult things I have ever had to do."
"Now, I've been able to celebrate two more of her birthdays and we're looking forward to Christmas, all thanks to the innovative treatment I received."
He added: "Although I know I am a 'super responder' and not all men in my position would have had the same outcome, I'm living proof of how far treatments for prostate cancer have come in the past few years thanks to investment, innovation and cutting-edge science."
Progress and challenges
Mr Mortimer's good news comes as fresh data reveals that men diagnosed with incurable advanced prostate cancer are surviving for longer. The National Prostate Cancer Audit established that significantly fewer men with advanced illness are dying within three years of diagnosis compared to a decade ago.
He said: "While there has been real progress over recent years, I'll soon be in the minority of men to have lived so long after an incurable prostate cancer diagnosis and it's a sobering reminder that behind every statistic is a man and his family facing a difficult future."
"It makes me all the more determined to do what I can to support research and I hope my story can give hope to other men diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer and inspire researchers to keep pushing the boundaries of what's possible to improve and extend the lives of men with this diagnosis."
He added: "I look forward to a time when living beyond three years with advanced prostate cancer is no longer something remarkable, but something every man with this diagnosis can reasonably expect."
Another patient's story
Elsewhere, fellow patient Kevin Webber was given just two years to live, yet remains an active ultra marathon runner an extraordinary 12 years later. The 61-year-old from Surrey described how his "world fell apart" upon receiving his diagnosis in 2014, when he was told he had developed an advanced form of the illness.
Over the subsequent 12 years, he has raised in excess of £1m for the charity Prostate Cancer UK by taking on numerous gruelling challenges, among them completing the Marathon Des Sables on five separate occasions.
Mr Webber said: "When I was diagnosed with prostate cancer 12 years ago and was told I might only have two years to live, my world fell apart."
"But after my diagnosis I went out for a run, which was one of the hardest things I've ever done, and that changed my life."
"Since then, I've had some incredible experiences and taken on some of the hardest endurance challenges around the world. A lot of this has been made possible by a shift in mindset, something I tell so many men I speak to about."
"But it's also made possible by the tailored treatments I've received for my prostate cancer, and through advances in science and research that keeps men like me on the road."
He added: "I'm so proud to have helped raise money to fund groundbreaking research over the past decade, and to know it's helping other men like me live longer lives despite an advanced prostate cancer diagnosis."
"I want this disease to be one that men, including my own sons, no longer fear. But there is still a long way to go and more investment in research needed to get us to a world where every man gets personalised treatment that works for him, helps keep any difficult side-effects at bay and makes sure he can carry on living his life to the full - or even running marathons like me."
