Former MP Paul Dewar part of drug trial in battle against malignant brain tumour

Former MP Paul Dewar says he istaking part inan immunotherapy drug trial, but he doesn't hold out hope that itwill cure his type of brain cancer.

Dewar says he's been going to a clinic in Gatineau, Que., with theaim to perhapsprolong his life, whilethe clinic looksto cure others with glioblastoma in the future.

He had surgery to remove the tumour on Feb. 14 and announced hisdiagnosis publicly on social media three days later. But he didnot reveal his prognosis, that it's grade 4 glioblastoma andterminal until thispast week.

Dewar said he and his wife Julia have been "very open andtransparent" with sons Nathaniel, 22, and Jordan, 19, anddecided to go public with announcing his illness after talking to friends.

By the end of April, Dewar had finished a six-week course ofradiation and chemotherapy. Friends had reminded him thatTragically Hip singer Gord Downiehad gone public with newsabout his own battle with glioblastoma after undergoing a firstround of treatments, "so we took that as a nod" to speak out.

Dewer, 55, wastheNDPMP for Ottawa Centre from 2006 to 2015. Hesat down with The National'sRosemary Barton to discuss thesupport he's received, how he's copingandanew projecthe's working on to helpyouth.

Theinterview is set to air Sundayon The National. Click on the video below to hear part of it:

'The real meaning of the word crisis is turning point': Paul Dewar reflects on his cancer diagnosis

6 years ago

Duration 2:06

Former NDP MP Paul Dewar sits down with The National's Rosemary Barton following the public disclosure of his terminal brain cancer prognosis