Dad hit three times by rare cancer welcomes new research project

A Tameside dad who survived cancer three times and has witnessed generations of his family die due to a faulty gene has welcomed renewed funding for research.

David Wragg faced a cancer diagnosis aged just 16 when he tested positive for the rare genetic condition Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS).

The same gene fault has massively impacted the maternal side of his family meaning he lost his mum, grandfather, sister, aunt and uncle to cancer.

Now aged 44, David welcomes news that Manchester researchers are set to share £50m of renewed funding for work into cancer early detection.

Cancer Research UK and The University of Manchester are working with researchers from all around the globe as part of the International Alliance for Cancer Early Detection (ACED).

In Manchester, Consultant Clinical Geneticist Dr Emma Woodward is focussing on hereditary cancers and how they develop. Her team works closely with David due to his extraordinary genetic history.

His family became aware of a problem when his maternal grandfather died of bone cancer in the 1980s. But it’s believed many generations of the family could have already died of cancer.

David’s first cancer diagnosis came when he was aged 16 and found a golf ball sized lump on his arm.

He was shocked after being diagnosed with an osteosarcoma and then finding out about the family history and subsequently testing positive for the rare syndrome.

David describes the following 12 months as a “whirlwind” of being in and out of hospital.

As a Heavy Metal fan, David was growing his hair and felt devastated when it fell out due to the chemotherapy treatment.

David faced the trauma of a bone graft operation at Birmingham’s Royal Orthopaedic Hospital where he was warned he may lose his arm.

However, the surgeon was able to save David’s arm and despite needing more chemotherapy, he made a good recovery and had a decade of being cancer free before his second diagnosis aged 28.

This time David had found a small lump on his shoulder which he initially ignored as he felt so fit and well. But the lump proved to be cancerous and he once again needed chemotherapy.

At the same time as David was undergoing treatment, his mum Sharon Stones had also tested positive for the faulty gene and been diagnosed with cancer.

Sharon’s initial cancer diagnosis was sarcoma in her leg before it spread to her lungs and she died just months later aged 55.

While David was having the lump from his shoulder removed at The Christie, his mum would visit before undergoing treatment herself.

David faced a third cancer diagnosis in 2015 following a regular MRI scan which detected a problem in his ribcage. An area of cancerous tissue was successfully removed and David made a speedy recovery.

He remains cancer free and was astounded to become a dad having been warned he may be infertile following all the treatment.

David lives in Ashton, with wife Sara and children Lucas, 7, and Mayflower, 4.

He said: “I have such a lust for life that I refuse to allow the shadow of cancer to rule the day to day.

“Each time I have been diagnosed I have cracked on with the treatment and put my faith in the doctors looking after me.

“Because I was diagnosed at such a young age, being in and out of hospital and regular check ups have simply been part of my life. I still have restricted mobility in my left arm from the original surgery, but I am lucky to be alive and to have two children which I never thought would be possible.

“If I had been born just a decade earlier then I might not be here now. Without the funding from Cancer Research UK for the hereditary cancer research work on my doorstep, then it might be a different story for future generations of my family.”

As part of the ongoing research work, David receives a full body scan annually to ensure he remains disease free.

Dr Emma Woodward, who is Honorary Senior Lecturer at The University of Manchester, said: “Genetic testing is far more sophisticated and widely available today than even 20 years ago. But while we may be able to tell someone like David that they are predisposed to developing a certain type of cancer because of their family history, we still don’t know exactly how that cancer develops and how to detect it early.

“If we can improve earlier detection, then we can intervene and ultimately save lives.

“This work is so exciting because it’s the first time such global expertise has come together. We are absolutely putting patients and families at the heart of what we do. And we’re incredibly grateful to Cancer Research UK as without the funding, there is no research.”

Cancer Research UK’s head of prevention and early detection, Dr David Crosby said: "Too many cancer cases in the UK are caught late, making them harder to treat and lowering the chance that people survive their illness. Like the smoke detectors in your home, technology that helps us to catch cancer early helps identify signs of trouble before they turn into something more dangerous.

“The hereditary cancer research work in Manchester will make a huge difference for future generations. It means families who are predisposed to certain types of cancer will be armed with information and closely monitored leading to early intervention and quicker treatment.

“Uncovering certain genes that cause cancer revolutionises the way that we can treat different types of the disease.

"Back in 2019, Cancer Research UK played a leading role in the development of ACED, convening some of the brightest minds in early detection research to transform the way we diagnose and treat cancer.

“Today, the momentum continues as we look for new, cunning ways to detect cancer before it has the chance to take hold, giving people a better chance of surviving the disease."

Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) is caused by a change in the TP53 gene. The TP53 gene controls when a cell divides. People with Li-Fraumeni syndrome have an increased risk of developing a number of cancers including breast cancer, bone cancer, acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), soft tissue sarcoma, brain tumours and cancer of the adrenal gland.