A father who was on the brink of death due to incurable cancer has been given a new lease on life thanks to a groundbreaking treatment.
Adam Nicolson faced a grim prognosis in summer 2023 when he was informed his battle with blood cancer, or myeloma, had run its course and that he should make the most of a final Christmas with his wife and three daughters.
"At the beginning of the summer I was told that was it, that the last course of treatment was going to give me until Christmas," Adam shared of his sad diagnosis.
Recalling his harrowing journey of recurring cancer and gruelling treatments, Adam went on: "All the lines of treatment had failed – they would work for about six months and then the cancer would come back. It took a toll, not just on me but on my family."
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But, as hope seemed to fade, the 55-year-old was presented with an opportunity to undergo a revolutionary treatment known as CAR-T through a clinical trial.
As per Cancer Research UK, CAR-T is a type of immunotherapy.
It goes on to say of the groundbreaking treatment: "With this treatment, a specialist nurse collects your T cells. These are then sent to the laboratory where a change is made to the T cell to become CAR T-cells.
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"After a few weeks, you have a drip containing these cells back into your bloodstream. The CAR T-cells then recognise and attack the cancer cells."
18 months on, and Adam is now in remission and reclaiming as much normalcy in his life as possible while recovering from his intense treatment.
"I couldn't walk," he shared. "My recovery has been extremely hard but, touch wood, my myeloma is in complete remission. I'm alive and getting stronger."
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Adam, who hails from Stirling, Scotland, is now advocating for CAR-T to be more accessible through the NHS and is calling for additional myeloma treatments in Scotland.
He expressed his gratitude, saying: "I've been so lucky. I'm only here because my consultants put me forward for the trial.
"They really pushed for me to get it. I've a good standard of life now, when I was practically dead before. I was in a wheelchair, I couldn't walk. That's how much of a difference it has made."
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact the American Cancer Society on 1-800-227-2345 or via their live chat feature, available 24/7 every day of the year.
Niamh Shackleton