STOP THE PRESS:
Nigel Lewis-Baker, one of the two founder members of Topic of Cancer has very kindly agreed to become a Patron. We are so pleased that he has accepted this position and have no doubt that the charity will benefit greatly from his expertise and experience.
Ed Schofield joins ToC as a Trustee
Ed is a designer, business owner, and local politician. Ed studied Fine Art at the UCA graduating in 2010. After working for the UK’s largest sculpture dealer for five years, in 2015, he founded the design agency Yazaroo with support from the Prince’s Trust. In 2019 Ed was elected in the local elections to represent Ash Wharf as a Councillor, he also volunteers for the Prince’s Trust running digital marketing workshops in London.
‘Why did I accept the invitation to become a trustee? Because who wouldn’t jump at the opportunity to help fund this essential cancer research. This is an amazing opportunity to use my skills to help save lives, potentially on a global scale – there is no more worthy cause than that’.


Research Updates – Professor Hardev Pandha
Do long term cancer survivors hold the secret for new immunotherapies? – Continuum Long term Survivor Study
Unlike cancer detected in its early stages, the vast majority of patients with advanced (metastatic) malignancies eventually succumb to their disease. Current treatments contribute to patient care largely through short or long term cancer ‘control’, but not disease elimination. This has been revolutionary in itself as ‘control’ may last a decade and beyond. However, rare patients with very advanced common cancers respond completely to their treatment (remove all of their cancer) with no recurrence in their lifetime. These ‘super responders’ are the unique individuals who may yield crucial information as to the possible underlying mechanisms for complete tumour rejection. Oncologists have been extremely interested in the concept of complete cancer clearance and cancer cure and exploiting the mechanisms by which this is occurring.
Continuum Life Sciences, a company set up by Dr James Hull, himself a cancer survivor, set out to explore this, with the express aim to bring new immune based treatments into the clinic based on ‘super responders’. He has funded 7 University groups (Oxford, Manchester, Cardiff, Nottingham, Swansea, Birmingham and Surrey) to work on this together, looking at the same problem from numerous angles. The remarkable patients and their journeys are highlighted in the company’s website (https://www.continuumlifesciences.com ) A formal trial, the first in the world, has been set up in Surrey, recruiting nationally, and to date 58 of these unique individuals are being assessed. The Surrey team are particularly interested in the bacteria we know colonises all cancers (called the cancer microbiome). These bugs can influence the growth of cancers and affect (hamper) the way current treatment work. We believe that super responders have an immune system (T cells in particular) that thinks the cancer is an infection (as they contain bacteria) and the powerful immune responses against the bacteria are cross-reactive against the cancer cells. This opens up a whole new field of exciting and novel immunotherapies.
It is hoped the first treatment, derived directly from super responder data findings in this research program, will be in clinical trial in 2-3 years.


Finances


Recent fund-raising events.


We had another very successful Quiz via Zoom in February, with around 80 participants grouped into breakout rooms within their teams. Worthy winners were ‘Broccoli is Lies’ with final scores as below:


An evening with Michael Buerk


Forth coming events
Friday 21st May – An afternoon of Golf
We’re delighted to announce the first ‘live’ event of 2021, with our 1st golf afternoon on Friday 21stMay at Chiddingfold Golf Club. Full details below but it should be a lot of fun.
If you have a local business and would like to display a banner at the event cost is from just £15 and all money raised goes directly to the charity:
Chiddingfold Golf Club – 1.00pm meet for 1.30pm starting tee times
Cost: £40 per person – you can enter as an individual but played in teams of 4: includes bacon buttie on arrival (or vegetarian option), 18 holes of golf, barbeque platter afterwards and prizes for nearest the pin, longest drive, best overall team, best individual score and ‘Beat the Pro’ on the 18th green.
to buy tickets visit: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/topicofcancer/496998 and if you would like to display a banner at the event or support in any other way please contact: sarah.bishop@topicofcancer.org.uk
Full details of others please watch our web-site but dates will be:
Thursday 22 July 1pm – Charity Golf Day at The Drift Horsley in collaboration with Oakleaf
Thursday 16th September from 12pm – Autumn Charity Golf Day at The Drift, Horsley
Virtual London Marathon – Sunday 3rd October


We have secured 2 places for the virtual London Marathon, and if you would like to apply for 1 of these coveted places please contact chair@topicofcancer.org.uk. You choose your route and have 23hrs, 59 mins to complete and will receive an official London marathon tee shirt and medal.
Don’t forget we appreciate anything you can do to help support the important work ToC are doing, either through the ground breaking research or the local support groups, which really help cancer patients and their families. Other ways you can help continue to raise funds are detailed:
Guildford Community Lottery
An easy way to support Topic of Cancer is to get involved in the Guildford Community Lottery monthly draw. We appreciate the support – and you could possible win £25,000 what a winner.
To enter please follow this link: https://www.guildfordlottery.org/support/topic-of-cancer


Amazon Smile With non- essential retailers still closed for business so many people are ordering ‘on-line’ by ordering via Amazon Smile, and selecting to donate to Topic of Cancer, 0.5% of Amazon sales will go to our charity.
https://smile.amazon.co.uk/


Thank you for your continued support – and we look forward to seeing some of you at our fund – raising events.
Stay safe and well,
The Trustees.