The Christie Charity
Press release posted 15 April 2025
A marathon runner from Prestwich in Greater Manchester is cancer free and has avoided surgery for rectal cancer* thanks to a clinical trial which gave him a higher dose of radiotherapy along with chemotherapy at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester.
Paul Swift, 40, who is married to Jess and has a 5-year-old daughter, Elsie, was just 4 weeks off running his first marathon, which he’d been training hard for, when he was diagnosed with early stage rectal cancer, a type of bowel cancer, in August 2023.
“I’d noticed a bit of blood for 6 or 7 months, but it was intermittent and kept it to myself. I thought it might be piles and wasn’t too worried, but when I mentioned it to Jess she made me get it checked out. A colonoscopy confirmed it was cancer and I thought ‘Oh my god, my life’s over’. My daughter was only 3 years old, so would I see her grow up? I was fit as a fiddle, had no side effects and didn’t feel ill. It was such a shock. I was only 39 and I didn’t think people got bowel cancer at my age.
“I was given the option of surgery to rip everything out, and I would be left with a stoma** bag for the rest of my life. Or I could go on a trial at The Christie, so straight away I said ‘get me to The Christie’.”
Paul was referred to The Christie and immediately started on a clinical trial funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research called APHRODITE. This trial is investigating whether a higher dose of radiotherapy increases the likelihood of successfully treating the rectal cancer and avoiding the need for surgery.
Paul, who runs his own civil engineering company, didn’t take a day off work while undergoing 28 days of radiotherapy alongside a chemotherapy tablet, taken twice a day. He was given the all-clear 12 months ago and was already back training for the Chester marathon which he completed in less than 5 hours a year after he started treatment and a year after he was supposed to have run it. Paul had got engaged to his long-term girlfriend, Jess, only months before he discovered he had cancer, but despite the diagnosis they decided not to change their wedding plans and married in November 2024, a year after his treatment.
He remains active and enjoys skiing and snowboarding, is running the Manchester Marathon on 27 April 2025 for The Christie Charity, is also training for an ultra-marathon next year, and hopes to do the Matterhorn marathon in the Swiss Alps. He just has to return to The Christie every 3 months for check-ups.
“I now have a different outlook on life. I’m encouraging all my mates to stay healthy and meet for walks instead of at the pub, and I organise early morning runs around my village.” Paul explains. “If I’d had surgery and a stoma bag I wouldn’t be doing all the active things I love to do. It would have had a real impact on my quality of life. I’m so grateful for the opportunity of going on the trial and I’d say to anyone to look into trials and definitely do it if it’s right for you.”
Dr Claire Arthur, consultant oncologist at The Christie said: “Many patients like Paul are keen to avoid the prospect of a stoma bag if possible. Whilst many people continue to lead active lives with a stoma, it can require significant psychological and physical adjustments and may impact an individual's quality of life.
“This trial gives us an alternative option to surgery. A standard dose of radiotherapy given over 5 and a half weeks can lead to the cancer disappearing in about a third of patients diagnosed with a small, early rectal cancer. The aim of the trial is to discover if a higher dose of radiotherapy given over the same length of time results in a better response, avoids surgery and sometimes, a stoma bag, and improves quality of life for the patient.
"Modern radiotherapy techniques enable a patient to be given a higher dose to the tumour, while reducing the amount the normal tissue receives, therefore, reducing the initial and long-term side effects. Paul responded well to the radiotherapy and has no significant long term side effects. To be clear of cancer is a great result for him and I’m delighted to hear updates about his physical endurance competitions.”
The APHRODITE trial is led by Professor Simon Gollins (The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust) and Dr Ane Appelt (University of Leeds and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust).
Dr Ane Appelt who has been supported by a fellowship from Yorkshire Cancer Research said: “We are completely dependent on people like Paul to find better treatments for future patients with rectal cancer. We know that some patients can be cured for their rectal cancer using radiotherapy and chemotherapy alone, avoiding the need for surgery and a stoma.
"Modern high-tech radiotherapy techniques are incredibly precise and can facilitating safe delivery of much higher doses of radiotherapy to the cancer than traditionally used - but we need trials to determine if that will also lead to more patients being cured of their cancer.
"As a keen runner and long-distance hiker myself, I’m particularly delighted to hear that Paul has been able to keep active and doing all the things he loves, and congratulate him on his amazing marathon achievements. I’m also grateful to Yorkshire Cancer Research for their long-term support for cancer trials throughout the north of England - this would not be possible without their funding.”
Sarah Brown, Professor of Cancer Clinical Trials Methodology at the University of Leeds, and Methodological Lead for the APHRODITE trial said: “Leeds researchers are constantly working towards smarter, kinder treatments for cancer, but none of this would make its way into real-life treatment without patients like Paul taking part in clinical trials. It is fantastic that the APHRODITE trial has allowed Paul to avoid needing a stoma bag, so he can keep doing the things he loves. We are continuing to test the approach of using a higher dose of radiotherapy to treat rectal cancer in the APHRODITE trial, which will provide us with valuable information to help inform treatment for many more patients in the future.”
Dr Stuart Griffiths, Director of Research at Yorkshire Cancer Research said: “Paul’s experience clearly demonstrates the importance of funding research that helps existing treatments deliver the best possible benefits for people with cancer. The APHRODITE trial is a key example of how changes in clinical practice could not only save lives but also improve the quality of those lives.
“Collaborating with researchers and experts throughout the UK is crucial in making sure we find answers quickly and can then swiftly introduce improvements in Yorkshire. We are grateful to the charity’s supporters for making this research possible and helping to bring better cancer cures and treatment to people in the region and beyond.”
The APHRODITE trial is now closed to recruitment. Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit is leading the APHRODITE trial.
When patients are referred to The Christie to discuss their cancer treatment, details regarding potential clinical trials they may be suitable for will be discussed. Together, the patient and clinical team will decide whether it is appropriate to proceed with a trial or not. More information about taking part in clinical trials can be found on our taking part in studies and trials page.
* The rectum is a chamber at the end of the large intestines and forms part of the bowel.
**A stoma is an opening made during surgery. It connects the bowel to the surface of the abdomen so that faeces can pass through it and be collected into a small bag attached externally to the body. A stoma can be permanent, but in some cases it can be reversed.