As a father of four and grandfather of three, Robert Myles could not be more grateful for the care of the PA Hospital and the opportunity the hospital gave him to be a part of a clinical trial.
Robert was diagnosed with stage four squamous cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer, in 2022, and after receiving treatment through the DESQUAMATE trial, at the PA Hospital’s clinical research facility, for more than 12 months, he is feeling great. Currently he visits the PA every three months for check-ups from his home in Atherton, Far North Queensland.
After being recommended for the trial by PA Hospital oncologist and PA Research Foundation supported researcher Dr Rahul Ladwa, Robert has been amazed by his body’s response to the treatment.
“I’m feeling fantastic, better than I’ve felt for years,” he said.
“From the start, I was fortunate in that I did not feel unwell during or after treatment, and I responded to the treatment almost immediately. In fact, from the first round of treatment, the tumour on my neck decreased so dramatically in size that it was astounding.
“I was able to continue working throughout my treatment which I definitely did not believe would be possible.
“I am no longer receiving any form of treatment and I am on no medications. I still work as a builder, and I honestly feel better than I have in a long time.”
With the PA Research Foundation having supported numerous skin cancer research projects, including squamous cell carcinoma research by Dr Ladwa, Robert said he was eternally grateful for the organisation’s donors who helped make research, like the trial he was helped by, possible.
“It’s difficult to express just how much the PA Foundation and their donors have done for me and my family. I believe that Dr Ladwa and the trial has given me back my life, and my most fervent hope is that my story and participation in the clinical trial will help to make this treatment available to more people, because it has been life changing for me and my family.”
Though not his first time as a patient of the PA, Robert can’t speak more highly of the level of care he has experienced at each visit.
“Dr Ladwa and his team, with special mention of Clinical Trial Coordinator Dieu Le have been incredible from the very beginning. They have gone out of their way to make things as easy for me as they can and explained each step of the process so I knew exactly what was happening,” he said.
“I could not have asked for a better bunch of professionals to guide me through my treatment.
“I used to live in Brisbane and had had a hernia operation at the PA some years back. That experience at the PA had been very positive so when the opportunity arose to have my cancer treatment at the PA I jumped at the chance.”
Now hopeful the clinical trial has been successful, and he will continue to hear positive news at each visit, Robert’s family have been a constant support throughout, and he is thankful for the opportunity to build stronger bonds and brighter futures with them.
“My kids were really the ones who harassed me into seeing a doctor about the lump on my neck in the first place, I’m not sure when I would have gotten around to it if left to my own devices,” he said.
“My family’s support has been amazing throughout. My eldest daughter and son live in Far North Queensland and my two youngest daughters live in Brisbane, so I have had family with me at appointments and treatment visits which was really helpful.
“Sometimes all the information can be overwhelming but having family there to ask questions and listen in with another set of ears was invaluable. My kids were frightened for me and having them along with me was a great way for them to feel they were involved and helping.
“I think experiencing an illness like this, while scary, is also an opportunity to bring us closer to our loved ones.”
You can support research and cancer trials like the trial that has helped Robert Myles here.
