A cancer patient has told how taking part in Christie trials for a new drug has changed his life.

Brian Mineards, 69, from Congleton, was diagnosed with prostate and bone cancer in 2002 after complaining about pain in his spine and legs.

Now the Manchester specialist cancer hospital is testing a new treatment that uses a radioactive substance to target and destroy cancerous cells.

Neither Brian nor his doctor are allowed to know whether he is actually receiving the drug, or just the normal treatment.

But the retired builder is
delighted with the results.

He said: “I finished the injections about five months ago and at that time I felt brilliant.

“It has slightly deteriorated now but I can still walk and ride a bike on flat ground.

“It has improved the quality of my life and that’s all they really can do. My wife and family have noticed the difference.

“I feel brilliant today. I can’t complain.”

Brian is still under observation following the test, which is at the final stage before the drug can be approved for use.

The drug, alpha-pharmaceutical, is designed to treat men with advanced prostate cancer.

The test is to see whether the drug can prolong survival and improve the quality of life. If left untreated, life expectancy is on average 12-15 months.

Doctors say the radioactive substance in the drug – radium-223 – does not spread far so healthy tissue, like bone
marrow, appears to remain
relatively unharmed.

Dr John Logue, at The Christie, said: “About 10,000 men in the country die from prostate cancer each year.

“Earlier clinical results with radium-223 have been very
encouraging and have suggested it is increasing survival rates and improving quality of life.”

n Surgary soft drinks can
dramatically increase the risk of pancreatic cancer, research suggests.

As few as two cans a week can almost double the chances of developing the disease,
according to experts at
Minnesota University.

Cancer Research UK say the evidence is ‘inconsistent’, with other studies suggesting no link.

But a spokesperson said: “Even so, it’s important to remember that people can put on weight if they drink lots of sugary, fizzy drinks and being overweight increases the risk of lots of different types of cancer.”