Hajeri’s journey
65-year-old Hajeri was diagnosed in 2017 with endometrial clear-cell carcinoma, a rare type of gynaecological cancer. After surgery and numerous chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy treatments elsewhere, Hajeri’s cancer kept coming back and eventually progressed to different parts of her body, including her lungs. She came to The Royal Marsden earlier this year (2024) and has received treatment through the ATARI clinical trial, which is supported by The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity with funding through The Lady Garden Foundation.
It all started in 2017 when I received a diagnosis of endometrial clear-cell carcinoma, at 58 years old. My menopause had started early, when I was in my 40s but in 2017, I started getting abnormal bleeding which I didn’t ignore. I went straight to my GP to get checked out and they took this very seriously. Straight away they sent me for scans and biopsies which is what led to my diagnosis.
It was a shock to be told the news that I had cancer, but I accepted it and tried to stay positive.
I had a hysterectomy surgery at my local hospital to remove my womb in December 2017 but in 2019, I relapsed. It started with having hypercalcaemia, (too much calcium in your blood).
I had been feeling very tired, especially in the mornings – so I went to my GP again to get checked out. They did lots of blood tests which is what showed the hypercalcaemia and I was rushed to my local hospital straight away.
I was put on chemotherapy treatment immediately. It was a really tough time, the treatment was brutal and all my hair fell out. I was lucky to have such lovely support around me from all my family and friends. The team at my hospital were so lovely too, really supportive.
The chemotherapy definitely made a difference and really helped with the hypercalcaemia too – I found this to be more aggressive than the cancer itself! It made me lose so much weight, I felt really down.
In 2020/2021 (Sept- Feb), my oncologist suggested I try a clinical trial This trial treatment involved having immunotherapy – which felt a lot less brutal than having the previous chemotherapy treatment. I had around four to five sessions of treatment on this trial and my cancer showed a partial response for a short time. It did help me, for a short time. This treatment happened during COVID times which was quite stressful, but I continued with the trial throughout this time.
In May 2021, the cancer came back again – this time as a mass on the left side of my pelvis. I could feel the lump. I’ve been through it so many times, I knew straight away that the cancer had come back. The CT scans confirmed it.
I was put onto radiation treatment. For a time, the radiation was going well and the mass was decreasing in size but then the cancer started progressing.
Last year, (2023), the mass started to get bigger and it was making my pelvis very weak – it caused me to have a few minor fractures in this area. I had more radiotherapy in November but this time, it didn’t work as well. I’m a person who likes to socialise but at that time, I didn’t go out much, it was really sad.
The cancer was continuing to progress and I could even feel the lump in my thigh area by this point. I went to see my oncologist and asked if there were any other research trials he could get me onto. I’d done chemotherapy, radiotherapy twice and one clinical trial – what else could I do?
As soon as my name was put into the system for research trials, it was picked up by The Royal Marsden. They told me they had a study, called ATARI, where they were looking for patients who had my type of cancer.
The ATARI trial, led by Professor Susana Banerjee, is a phase II international trial investigating whether a new type of drug, called an ATR inhibitor, can help treat people with certain types of gynaecological cancers that have come back after treatment. The trial is led by The Royal Marsden and The Institute of Cancer Research and is part funded by The Lady Garden Foundation, through The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.
I had lots of tests to see if I qualified for this trial and to see if I was fit enough to go ahead with treatment. During these tests, they found that the cancer had also metastasized to my lungs.
I started the ATARI trial in May this year which involved two medications – the first one was tablets which I took for a week at home, then it was into the hospital for my immunotherapy infusions.
Professor Susana Banerjee and her team are amazing, especially the nurses I’ve had, Lizzie and Maria. The whole team in Sutton are very caring, they’re so kind. The West Wing team are so lovely, they’re always happy to see me and I’m happy to be there too.
I come to the new building, the Oak Cancer Centre, for my appointments and then to the West
Wing for my blood tests and treatment. I’m in the hospital regularly for appointments, treatment and scans.
The first CT scan I had after starting on the ATARI trial was good news. Professor Banerjee came to see me and was so happy – she told me that my lung metastases was going down. I was with my husband when she told us this news and we were both so happy, I’m feeling positive.
I was introduced to the Thames Hospice after immunotherapy. They have also been a good support and very caring throughout.
The support I’ve had from family and friends has been incredible, especially from my husband, my four children, (3 sons and 1 daughter), and my brothers and sisters.
My wider family are all over the world, Africa, the Middle East, Ireland, America! But still I felt supported by them all. I’m originally from Kenya, from Mombasa – by the coast. Some of my family still live there, my brother and my Aunties. I got married and came to the UK about 40 years ago.
I was able to see my only daughter get married last year which was really special.
At the beginning of August, I was also able to see my sister’s granddaughter get married which was amazing. We had a big family reunion in East London and people travelled from all over the world to be there. That day, I was at a good point in my treatment cycle where I wasn’t suffering with the nausea that can often affect me badly at other points during treatment. It was so nice as I was able to really enjoy the day with lots of family.
My hopes for the future are that I get to continue seeing my grandchildren grow up. I have nine grandchildren, the oldest being 12 years old and the youngest was only born in July!
I really hope that my involvement in the ATARI trial will help many others after me, that’s part of the reason I wanted to get involved with another clinical trial – to support others.
I’m happy to be sharing my story, to make others aware of the importance of research and to help others who are going through the same situation as me. I believe in prayers and I hope anyone who reads my story will pray for me.