A DAUGHTER who lost her dad to a brain tumour is backing a new appeal to fund the world’s first major trial to see if a cannabis-based drug could help give patients more time to live.

Siobhan Manton, 28, from Northwich, lost her dad John to a glioblastoma brain tumour earlier this year after he was first diagnosed in 2018.

The trial, to be funded by The Brain Tumour Charity, is to launch at 15 NHS hospitals to assess whether adding Sativex, an oral spray containing cannabinoids THC and CBD, to chemotherapy could extend life for thousands of people who are diagnosed with a recurrent glioblastoma brain tumour.

This tumour type currently has an average survival of just 10 months.

This would be a phase II trial to follow promising results from a phase I study earlier this year which looked at its effect in 27 patients.

The Brain Tumour Charity, which is the largest dedicated funder of brain tumour research globally, has now launched an appeal to raise the £450,000 needed so it can open the trial as soon as possible.

It is hoped the trial can begin recruiting more than 230 patients across the UK in early 2022, subject to the required funding being raised.

Siobhan’s dad, John, first began having symptoms of the brain tumour in May 2018 when he heard music in his head and began to slur his words.

Worried that he had a stroke, Siobhan took her dad to hospital but they only got as far as the end of the road before John had a seizure.

A CT scan and blood tests came back clear but John used the private healthcare which he had through his work to have a MRI scan – which found the grape-sized tumour.

John soon had surgery which successfully removed all of the tumour, but the family’s elation was short-lived and it was revealed that the tumour was an aggressive glioblastoma.

John was given just six-18 months to live.

Siobhan said: "Dad always had a positive mindset and so he was determined to fight the tumour.

"We would all be feeling sorry for ourselves and worrying about what time we had left with him but Dad would just say 'these are the cards I’ve been dealt and I’ve got to carry on with what’s been given to me'.

"He never once complained about anything – he just carried on with life as much as he could."

John had courses of radiotherapy and chemotherapy and, a few months later, an all-clear scan showed that the treatment had been successful – and scans continued to be clear for a year.

But sadly, the tumour began to grow again.

In April, during the first lockdown, John’s condition worsened.

In November, the family were told that John had just a few months left to live and he passed away on February 12.

The Manton family have been supporting The Brain Tumour Charity since John’s diagnosis and have raised more than £23,000 through challenge events and following a donation from John’s former employer, Barclay’s Bank.

Siobhan hopes that a trial such as this one could stop other families from being torn apart in a similar way to her own.

She added: "I had read so much about other cancer types but nothing about brain tumours or glioblastomas – that’s not OK and we need to raise their profile more.

"So many people are diagnosed and die weeks later and we were incredibly lucky to get two and a half years with dad.

"But his treatment options were so poor and we tried everything but nothing worked to keep dad with us for longer than he did.

"I would say to anyone thinking of donating to this trial that their support has the real potential to have a massive impact on so many people’s lives.

"Even if this trial just changes things for one person then it would be worth it.

"Please donate whatever you can to help people like my amazing dad."

Dr David Jenkinson, interim CEO at The Brain Tumour Charity, which is funding the trial, said: "We know there is significant interest about the potential activity of cannabinoids in treating glioblastomas, and we’re really excited that this world-first trial here in the UK could help accelerate these answers.

"But we also know that for many, like the Manton family, this trial won’t come soon enough.

"In the meantime, while other cannabis-based products may help alleviate symptoms, there is insufficient evidence to recommend their use to help treat brain tumours.

"For anyone considering using cannabis-based products or other complementary therapies, it’s vital that you discuss these with your medical team first."

Almost all glioblastomas recur even after intensive treatment including surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and average survival is just 12-18 months from first diagnosis.

Over the last decade, there has been significant global interest within both patient and scientific communities about the activity of cannabinoids in brain tumours, with the view that cannabinoid-based products may not only help relieve symptoms but could also have a positive impact on survival.

For more information or to donate to the trial visit thebraintumourcharity.org/donate/cannabinoid-appeal/.