A Bedfordshire dad, who was diagnosed with stage 4 skin cancer which spread to his major organs, is now living with 'no evidence of cancer' in his body, after pioneering treatment at Addenbrooke's Hospital.
Watch David's story
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nMmslF9F9s
Father-of-three David Bateson, was first diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer in December 2019 at 44 years-old. Despite undergoing treatment, (surgery, radiotherapy and a course of preventative immunotherapy), his cancer returned twice; the first time in 2020 and again in 2021, when David was told the cancer had spread to his liver, lungs and spine.
David’s consultant, Dr Pippa Corrie, an oncologist at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, then prescribed David a new course of 'combination' immunotherapy treatment, combining two drugs to help kick-start his immune system and fight his cancer cells. After two years of the pioneering treatment, David was given the incredible news in January 2024, that there is no trace of cancer in his body.
“The chances are I wouldn’t be here today, if it wasn’t for people researching and developing new drugs to fight cancer. I think the new cancer hospital planned for Cambridge, is going to take that to another level.”
David Bateson
“I just feel incredibly lucky. I appreciate life so much, I have a second go at this, and it’s just amazing," David said.
Describing what it was like to be told he had stage 4 cancer that had spread to his major organs, David said the hardest thing was worrying about what would happen to his family - his wife, Lisa, a community nurse, and their children; George, 22, Jack, 19, and Grace, 17.
“Having kids is the best feeling in the world. When they are born, the feeling you have is unbelievable. I didn’t want to not be there for them, I kept thinking about all the things I would miss. Things like walking Grace down the aisle.”
This turnaround has inspired David to raise money for Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT) and volunteer his time to support the plans for Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital, a new specialist hospital being built on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus.
The planned hospital will provide specialist cancer care for patients in the East of England. The state-of-the-art facility is bringing NHS staff from Addenbrooke’s and world-leading scientists from the University of Cambridge together, under one roof. This integrated approach will help fast track cancer innovations and will mean patients from across the region can directly benefit from the latest innovations in cancer science.
David is now a member of the new hospital’s Patient Advisory Group (PAG), a group of current and former patients using their lived experience to help design and shape the build, to make sure the new facility will provide the best care to meet everyone’s needs.
He set himself the goal of raising £500 during his immunotherapy treatment but David has since smashed this goal, going on to raise a staggering £50,000.
The total was reached with a charity football match between Ampthill Town Football Club and Luton Town Football Club under 21s (which David’s son Jack plays for). Former England goalkeeper David James made a special appearance on the day.
Last month, Luton Town Legend Mick Harford presented David with a giant cheque for £50,000, made out to ACT, at a Premier League match.
David now hopes to inspire others living with cancer and had this message for other patients and their families: “Don’t ever give up hope. There is always hope, and it’s amazing what is being developed in terms of new cancer treatments.”
To find out more about fundraising for the new Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital, please click here.
To read more about David's story and treatment, please click here.