Rhys contracted Hepatitis C after he received a blood transfusion after an accident in 1982. In 2015, he was cleared of the virus but was warned that there could be complications and damage to his liver, and that Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) was a risk.

He was monitored with regular ultrasounds and two years ago, cancer was found. A liver resection was talked about as a potential option and then a transplant, but the cancer had spread to a lymph node; thus removing surgery or transplant as an option.

A welcome call in 2023 gave some hope. After a pre-clinical trial assessment, Rhys was offered a place on a clinical trial where he has received the combination of Atezolizumab with Bevacizumab. An MRI scan at week 18 commented “There has been a complete response for target and non-target disease, so the overall response is complete response. Results of MRI scan at week 36 are unchanged."

Rhys is philosophical about the outcomes of the trial - he knows it is giving him and extension of life but it is not a cure. But one of his motivations for participating was to be able to help others in the future.

Rhys was told, as many HCC patients are, that the best treatment for his cancer was the combination of Atezolizumab with Bevacizumab which is not publicly funded in New Zealand, although it is considered standard of care for patients like Rhys in Australia, the US and UK among other countries.

Rhys had a tense wait to see if he would be accepted on a trial where he would get access to immunotherapy for free. He says it’s like a ‘golden ticket’ and feels very lucky to be on the trial and receiving this treatment that he is responding so well to.

“My health is wonderful! Right from day one on the trial I've been feeling very well. I’m still able to work full time and my quality of life is great.”

“I had to think about my options if I wasn’t successful in getting a place on the trial and I had decided that I would have to use my retirement savings, and if needed also take a loan out on my home – I don’t have health insurance and had no other way to pay for private treatment. I really feel for people having to make that decision. It’s not an easy one, but it’s your life.”

“We really need these drugs funded. They are making such a huge difference to me and there are such limited options for people with HCC – why should Kiwis miss out on what patients in other countries get as standard treatment.”