“For families like mine facing brain cancer, time means everything. Research like EPIC-GB is the only way to give families more time to make memories together.” – Emma’s experience

Family has always been at the centre of Emma Ward’s life. The 47-year-old met her husband at 18 and together they settled in Poppleton in York, raising two daughters and building a home filled with love and laughter.

In early 2025, life took an unexpected turn. Within weeks, Emma went from juggling work, school drop-offs and a home renovation to beginning an intense course of treatment after being diagnosed with brain cancer.

Now, more than a year on, Emma is sharing her experience to call for more funding for research, so new and better treatments can be available for people facing a brain cancer diagnosis. She has become an ambassador for EPIC-GB, a programme of new brain cancer clinical trials funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research and led by researchers at the University of Sheffield and the University of Glasgow.  

Pioneered in Yorkshire, the EPIC-GB trials aim to transform how cancer drug treatments are tested for people with glioblastoma - the most common type of brain cancer - so they can access new and potentially life-extending treatment options sooner.  

It was February 2025 when Emma first noticed something unusual with her health. As she set off to drive her daughter to dance class, she dropped her car keys and couldn’t turn the ignition on or use the indicator.  

Emma said: “It was if my brain and body weren’t communicating properly and I found myself reaching for things that didn’t seem to be where I thought they were. My spatial awareness was completely off.”

After going to A&E, Emma was told she may have experienced a Transient Ischaemic Attack, often referred to as a mini-stroke. She was then advised low blood pressure could have been the cause and was referred for a scan. She returned to normal life until four weeks later, she experienced similar symptoms while eating lunch with a colleague.

Emma said: “My colleague asked me why I was eating with my hands. I looked down and realised there was no fork in my hand. I knew then something was very wrong.”

Emma returned to A&E where she had a CT scan. The scan revealed a tumour in her brain known as an astrocytoma and she was booked in for surgery in Hull to remove as much of the tumour as possible.

After Emma’s operation, she was told they had successfully removed most of the tumour but it was cancerous and classed as grade 4 – one of the fastest-growing types of brain tumour.

Emma said: “I’d like to think I’m quite a strong person, but I wasn’t prepared to hear the words grade 4, or that I could have just 12-18 months to live. I went into practical mode, cancelling my contact lenses and sorting out my insurance. Of course, telling my family and friends was the hardest part.”

Yorkshire Cancer Research is funding £75 million of pioneering research and cancer services to find new and better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer.

The EPIC-GB trials are one example of how Yorkshire Cancer Research is working with researchers and cancer experts to bring vital expertise to the region, enabling people in Yorkshire to be among the first to benefit from innovative cancer breakthroughs.  

Emma went on to complete a six-week course of radiotherapy alongside six months of chemotherapy which she finished in January. She made considerable efforts to access additional treatment through clinical trials but soon found that availability for people with brain cancers in Yorkshire was extremely limited.

With few treatment options available, she travelled abroad to access immunotherapy treatment; something that was only possible because of extensive fundraising by her friends and family. Together, they have raised £145,000 through events and online appeals to enable her to receive treatment

Emma said: “With no further options for me in the UK, I couldn’t just sit and wait to die. All I could think about was the extra time I could have with my husband and my daughters. My friends and family did everything they could and I was completely blown away by the kindness and generosity people showed. "

Since 2007, there have been no significant breakthroughs in the treatment of glioblastoma as many cancer drugs fail to reach the tumour due to a protective layer around the brain called the blood-brain barrier.

Clinical trials involving people with glioblastoma are urgently needed to find out if different cancer drugs are likely to get into the brain and work.

EPIC-GB would enable people to start trial treatments before surgery. Tumour tissue removed during the operation can then be studied, creating a valuable ‘window of opportunity’ to quickly understand which drugs reach the tumour and are likely to be effective.  

By identifying promising treatments as early as possible, people with recurring glioblastoma can continue those treatments, or stop them if they don't get into the brain. This helps the person avoid unnecessary side effects and move to alternative and potentially more effective options more quickly.

For Emma, EPIC-GB represents a critical step forward in brain cancer research and a meaningful chance for people with brain cancer in Yorkshire and beyond to access cutting-edge research that could extend and improve their lives. 

Emma’s most recent scan in March showed her tumour is currently stable. She has since travelled back to Germany for a second course of immunotherapy and is feeling well enough to continue working. Her focus now is on “being spontaneous” and spending valuable time with her loved ones, including a recent trip with friends to Center Parcs and a family weekend away in Saltburn.

She said: “I now have a few months where I can just live without worrying. That time is precious. My eldest daughter passed her driving test and is doing well in her A-levels. My youngest is working very hard in her dancing training. I am beyond proud of what they have achieved since my diagnosis and how they have faced everything.”