Patient 'honoured' to be treated in cancer trial

Lieon Pemberton is the eighth patient to undergo histotripsy as part of the trial

A patient who only discovered she had a kidney tumour after a car crash has thanked the doctors who treated her using a new sonic beam therapy being trialled in Leeds.

Lieon Pemberton, 54, from Bradford, was diagnosed with a cancerous tumour in her right kidney after it was detected during a scan in January.

She was referred to the Leeds Cancer Centre where she underwent a non-invasive treatment called histotripsy, which uses highly focused ultrasound waves to destroy tumours.

The trial was recently praised by Health Secretary Wes Streeting as “world leading” during discussions about the future of the NHS.

The histotripsy therapy is being trialled at Leeds Cancer Centre

Ms Pemberton said she felt “blessed and honoured” to be offered the treatment, as cancer had affected multiple members of her family.

“Blessed that it was found in the accident and honoured to be taking part in such a trial,” she said.

“Especially with my sisters, as all three of us have cancer at the same time… So I do feel happier and healed knowing that it can help other families.”

Ms Pemberton is the eighth patient to undergo the histotripsy treatment as part of the Cain Trial, which is being hosted by the Leeds Cancer Centre at St James’s Hospital.

The trial will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the therapy in destroying primary solid renal tumours - and follows on from a similar trial for liver tumours.

Prof Tze Min Wah, professor of interventional radiology, is leading the histotripsy trial

Prof Tze Min Wah who is leading the trial, described the treatment as “life changing”.

“This is a truly a shift in the treatment paradigm because this is a technology that is non-invasive,” she said.

“It is knifeless, there is no radiation and it’s a non-thermal therapy.

“It will translate to a better patient experience, be more cost effective - because patients can recover quicker – and that will translate to a win-win situation.

“I’ve always said we are entering a Star Wars-era and having this treatment available for the UK population could be totally transformative,” she said.

Following treatment Ms Pemberton was able to go home after one night in hospital.

Scans taken after the procedure still need to be fully evaluated but the hospital team are confident the tumour has been “largely treated”.

The trial will recruit 10 patients in total and continues in Leeds until the end of December.

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