Katherine Webster (Image: CUH)
A woman who is living her life to the full five years after being diagnosed with an aggressive has revealed her defiant one-word response after being told she had just months to live.
Katherine Webster, 52, was diagnosed with Glioblastoma in March 2020, after suffering a seizure on a train. Glioblastomas are the most common type of malignant in adults. They’re also known to be fast-moving, and can strike at any age.
According to The Brain Tumour Charity, 25% of patients surive more than a year, and only 5% of patients survive more than five years.
Speaking to , Ms Webster said: “They told me I had months to live, but because I’m such a positive person, I thought: “No, I’m not having that!”
“I remember my parents looking really miserable, as you would do if you’d been told your daughter has only months to live.
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Dr Thankamma Ajithkumar (Image: CUH)
“I just remember coming out of the surgery and saying, ‘I’m going to fight this’,” she added.
She underwent surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, and has since gone into remission.
Ms Webster suffers from some memory loss and has done physiotherapy to help rehabilitate her right-hand side, but otherwise describes herself as doing “remarkably well”, Cambridge University Hospital said in a .
Her body’s strong response to treatment is now of interest to researchers, and in March she will be invited to take part in the a trial looking to understand what biological factors may contribute to long-term survival.
The UK phase of the international study is being co-ordinated by Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
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Eight UK hospitals are joining others around the world looking to identify the small percentage of patients, like Ms Webster, who beat the odds and survive years after being diagnosed.
The study is focussing on the three most aggressive and deadly , small-cell lung , advanced pancreatic cancer and glioblastoma.
Researchers intend to collect tumour samples from over 1,000 patients among the top three per cent in terms of survival.
The samples will be analysed by French techbio company heading up the study, supported by Sofinnova, hoping to find novel therapeutic targets on which to base new treatments.
Consultant clinical oncologist at Addenbrooke’s and chief investigator for the UK arm of the study, Dr Thankamma Ajithkumar said: “Rather than focusing on why cancer patients do not survive, this study seeks to understand what it is that makes them live.
“By investigating the biology of this elite group of super-survivors, the study aims to discover insights that could potentially benefit and improve outcomes for all patients.”