'I nearly missed out on a life-saving clinical trial due to my age'

Harry Brown, 19, was diagnosed with leukaemia when he was 17 years old

When Harry Brown was diagnosed with cancer at 17 years old, he did not respond to any of the initial treatment.

The teenager, from Harrogate, spent three months in hospital due to having acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, which eventually spread to his spinal column.

His last hope was a clinical trial suggested by his consultant but with his 18th birthday approaching, there was a race against the clock to make sure he was eligible.

Luckily, he could take part and Harry said "without a shadow of a doubt" he would not be here today without it.

"Everything that should have worked just didn't work," his mother Helen Brown recalled about her son's treatment two years ago.

"It did feel like we were running out of options. I felt like I was going to lose him.

"I wouldn't have an older son had it not been for a clinical trial. It's given me him back and they're just vital."

However, the Teenage Cancer Trust said patients who are Harry's age are missing out on life-saving trials due to age restrictions.

Harry was eligible for the clinical trial because he was just under 18

If Harry had his birthday two months earlier, he would not have been allowed to enrol.

Now 19 years old, he has been in remission for 12 months and credits the treatment for him being able to resume his life.

"I only managed to enrol on my trial because I managed to get the paperwork signed a few months before my 18th birthday," he said.

"Without that, I probably wouldn't be here now.

"It's about making sure that everyone has a fair shot at survival. Clinical trials offer more than just new treatments, they bring hope."

The teen added he was now "enjoying life again", after completing his A levels and going on a cycling holiday with his best friend.

His mum added: "I dread to think where we would be now if it hadn't happened because there weren't any other options offered."

Thanks to the trial, Harry can now live life to the fullest again

The Teenage Cancer Trust has called for more young people with cancer to be given the chance to take part in clinical trials.

In 2019, the NHS England plan pledged to offer half of all young cancer patients access to a trial by this year.

However, despite the charity and the BBC asking how the NHS has performed against this target, the data has not been made available.

Amy Harding, director of services at the Teenage Cancer Trust said: "Research has shown there is no scientific or medical reason for that (age restrictions).

"It is purely because of where the trials originate from. If you are 17 years and under and you are being treated in a children's hospital, you would not be able to access the trials in the adult hospitals, which is crazy.

"It is important that age restrictions aren't so fixed and are more flexible to accommodate all ages."

According to Ms Harding, young patients face more barriers because they tend to experience rare cancers for which less clinical trials are available.

She believes age restriction is a barrier that could easily be looked at.

Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.