A TRAINEE oncologist from Sherfield-on-Loddon is almost half way through a year-long fundraising campaign to raise awareness of prostate cancer by raising £150,000.

Deborah Enting, of Compton Way in Sherfield Park, is aiming to raise £150,000 for the Urological Cancer Research Fund at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals by running 1,500 miles throughout the year.

The 37-year-old is currently researching how the immune system can be taught to fight prostate cancer as part of her PHD at the hospital and the money raised will fund important research to improve treatment for men diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer amongst men in the UK and it accounts for a quarter of all new cancer cases in men in the UK.

More than a third of prostate cancer cases are diagnosed in men aged 75 and over and the disease is commonly detected through the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test.

Deborah told The Gazette: “There is a lot of interest in the immune system with cancer because over the last few years, therapies have become available for patients and they have proved to be very efficient.

“With patients, it is often a case of reprogramming their immune system to make cells attack the cancer rather than the patient having chemotherapy which has a lot of side effects. It is a nicer way to attack the cancer by getting your own body to do it rather than the drugs itself.”

As well as taking part in the London Marathon in April, Deborah will also be taking part in the Basingstoke Half-Marathon and the Cotswold Way Challenge which will see her run 100 miles over four days.

To donate, visit justgiving.com/deborah-enting