Birmingham ten pin bowling champ stands up to cancer after life saving clinical trial

Former ten pin bowling champion and coach Brian Moore is backing the joint fundraising campaign from Cancer Research UK and Channel 4.

Brian took part in the StarTrec trial, led by Professor Simon Bach at the University of Birmingham, which treated his cancer with radiotherapy instead of surgery and a stoma.

Now Brian, who believes the Cancer Research UK funded trial not only eradicated his cancer but has also allowed him to enjoy a better quality of life, hopes his story will inspire people to stand together against the disease by raising money to help make the next cancer breakthrough happen.

The 67-year-old retired Centro executive officer first noticed something was wrong in February 2023 after experiencing constipation and bleeding when he went to the toilet.

Expecting to be told he had piles, Brian went to the GP, but instead he was sent for an urgent cancer check.

Brian was given an endoscopy and had some polyps removed, but a suspicious lump was found just inside his rectum. A biopsy of the lump revealed he had colorectal cancer.

“They said it was early stage and they mentioned the StarTrec trial – this meant that I could be offered different treatment as opposed to going straight to surgery and a stoma, which may or may not have been reversible. I said “sign me up” - my view was to go for the trial as I couldn't be any worse off if nothing worked and it might be useful for future cancer patients.

“I was randomised onto the five-day intensive radiotherapy option. I was amazed how quick the radiotherapy was. The other option had been one day a week for five weeks,” said Brian.

Luckily Brian had no side effects apart from a little nausea and some lower back pain, which cleared up quite quickly.

Since then, CT scans, MRI scans and endoscopies have all shown no trace of cancer.

Brian, who lives in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, continues to be monitored and says the trial he took part in has enabled him to enjoy life in way he may not have been able to with more traditional treatment.

Although his ‘dodgy knees’ no longer allow him to participate in the ten-pin bowling that was such a big part of his life, he makes up for it with a passionate devotion to Milwall Football Club.

He is also a keen traveller and made the trip of a lifetime earlier this year to visit his sister in Perth, Australia, travelling from Sydney via the famous Indian Pacific transcontinental train.

Brian said: “My brother-in-law in Australia had been diagnosed with advanced cancer six months before me. He managed to get on a clinical trial, and he is doing so well he was able to attend his son’s wedding in the UK.

“This scientific work is so important in helping us survive cancer. I am a massive fan of clinical trials – they can be a real game-changer for people like me and my brother-in-law.”

Stand Up To Cancer takes developments from the lab and accelerates them into new tests and treatments that could help save the lives of more people like Brian.

He hopes his story will inspire gym addicts and couch potatoes alike to flex their fundraising muscles by taking part in Stand Up To Cancer’s 100 squats a day challenge this November.

With support available online ‘every rep of the way’, participants can adapt the challenge to suit their fitness level by completing their squats anytime, anywhere – all at once or throughout the day. By the end of the 30 days, they will have clocked-up a total of 3,000 squats to help power life-saving research.  

Alternatively, less energetic folk can choose to donate, raise money in their own way, or pick from a host of fun-filled ideas with a free fundraising pack available online for inspiration and support.  

With around 33,700 people diagnosed with cancer every year in the West Midlands the need to make faster advances is clear.*

Brian continued: “Success stories like mine would not be possible without research into better and kinder treatments. That’s why I’m lending my heartfelt support to this vitally important campaign. Now is the time for everyone across the West Midlands to Stand Up To Cancer. Every action big or small could make a difference.”

Stand Up To Cancer scientists are helping to transform the landscape of cancer therapy. Research taking place right now includes The STAR-TREC trial, led by Professor Simon Bach, which is investigating whether chemo and radiotherapy could reduce the need for drastic surgery for people with rectal cancer.

ASTFOX, another trial led by Dr Coyle, which is running out of our Cancer Research UK Glasgow Clinical Trials Unit. The trial is testing a drug that could make bowel cancer cells self-destruct.

Since its launch in the UK in 2012, Stand Up To Cancer has raised more than £113 million, funding 73 clinical trials and research projects involving more than 13,000 cancer patients.

Cancer Research UK spokesperson for the West Midlands, Jane Redman, said: “Thanks to our supporters, our scientists are working tirelessly to help more people like Brian survive. From developing pioneering technology using lasers and robots to improve cancer surgery, to using AI to optimise radiotherapy treatment for rectal cancer, and creating lollipops that could detect mouth cancer - we’re at the cutting edge of research.

“But we must go further and faster. Nearly one in two of us will get cancer in our lifetime.** All of us can help beat it. That’s why we’re asking everyone to Stand Up To Cancer with us. Whether it’s choosing to donate, fundraise, or tackle the ups and downs of our squats challenge, if thousands of us make a stand we’ll speed up the progress of vital research – meaning more people live longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.”

Take part, donate or fundraise now at www.su2c.org.uk/get-involved

STAND UP TO CANCER: OVER A DECADE OF PROGRESS. LIFETIMES OF IMPACT.

Cancer is the number one cause of death in the UK***, and in the West Midlands, around around 33,700 people are diagnosed with the disease every year.*

In the 1970s, 1 in 4 people in the UK survived cancer for 10 years or more. But today, thanks to progress in research, it’s 2 in 4.****

Stand Up To Cancer aims to accelerate life-saving advances to see 3 in 4 people survive their disease for 10 years or more by 2034.

Thanks to the generosity of the public, key achievements made possible by funding from the campaign include:

• Showing that the drug olaparib is effective against an aggressive type of prostate cancer, meaning more people can now access the drug via the NHS – improving their chance of survival.
• Creating a simple blood test that could soon be widely available to help doctors better understand and treat advanced breast cancer.
• Developing a potential new cancer treatment for the future by designing a method that could make chemotherapy kinder, delivering drugs more precisely – and with fewer side effects – via microscopic bubbles.

To support more research like this, visit su2c.org.uk/get-involved