Published on 28 October 2026
A routine medical for a clinical trial led to a life-changing diagnosis for Paul Byrne – and may have saved his life.
Paul, from Widnes, was working in a pharmaceutical laboratory making a drug used to treat prostate cancer when a doctor noticed that his white blood cell count was rising.
It was late 1999. Paul, who also volunteered for clinical trials and worked as a scuba-diving instructor, regularly had routine medical examinations. When another test four weeks later showed that his white blood cell count had risen again, his GP referred him for further investigation.
A bone marrow biopsy in February 2000 confirmed that Paul had
(CML), a rare type of blood cancer that usually develops slowly and affects the bone marrow and white blood cells.
Paul said: “The strange thing was that I had absolutely no symptoms. If it had not been for those medicals, I would never have known. I was devastated when I was told. My mum, dad and girlfriend were with me. The doctor said that, without treatment, I could die within three years. With treatment, they thought I might have another 10 years at most.”
Paul began the standard treatment available at the time. Despite difficult side-effects, he persevered day by day while doctors explored whether a stem cell transplant might offer his best chance. His brother and sister were tested as potential donors, but neither was a match.
Although CML is not usually considered curable without a stem cell transplant, treatment can often control it for many years and allow people to enjoy a good quality of life. Paul’s cancer remained stable, and a few years later he began taking a new treatment called imatinib.
The change was transformational. Paul experienced no side-effects and his quality of life improved significantly.
In 2014, Paul was offered a place on the DESTINY clinical trial. The study explored whether some people who had lived with CML for a long time could safely reduce their dose of imatinib and eventually stop treatment without their cancer worsening.
“It sounded fantastic, so I decided to try it,” Paul said. “My doctor reduced my treatment in line with the trial protocol and, after about a year, stopped it completely. It has now been 11 years since I stopped treatment. I still have tests every three months, but as long as the abnormal cells remain below a certain level, I can stay off treatment.”
Twenty-six years after his diagnosis, Paul is determined to help other people affected by cancer. His motivation also comes from the loss of his wife, who died from ovarian cancer in 2019.
Knowing that Paul wanted to give something back, his CML specialist nurse suggested volunteering at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre – Liverpool. Paul has since become a familiar face at the hospital, offering a warm welcome, kind words and practical help to the thousands of patients and visitors who come through its doors each year.
He said: “When I was diagnosed in 2000, I thought my life was over. It was such a shock because I had no symptoms at all. Looking back, I think I was very lucky that it was caught early. It is incredible to think what might have happened if I had not had that medical all those years ago.”
Consultant Haemato-Oncologist Dr Nauman Butt, who has managed Paul’s care at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre for many years, said Paul had responded extremely well to treatment.
He said: “Following an excellent response to imatinib, Paul successfully stopped treatment as part of the DESTINY trial. With close monitoring, he has remained off therapy since 2015 with excellent disease control. His reliable attendance at clinic appointments and blood tests makes him particularly well suited to our new groundbreaking clinic for patients with CML in treatment-free remission. It has been wonderful to see him remain well.”