A father who was once facing a terminal diagnosis due to an incurable form of cancer has found hope through an innovative treatment approach.
In the summer of 2023, Adam Nicolson received the devastating news that his struggle with myeloma, a type of blood cancer, had reached its end, and he was advised to cherish what was expected to be his final Christmas with his family.
“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 revealed about his heart-wrenching diagnosis.
Reflecting on his difficult journey through recurring cancer and intense treatments, Adam continued: “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.”
As his situation seemed dire, the 55-year-old was offered a chance to participate in a clinical trial for a promising treatment called CAR-T.
Cancer Research UK describes CAR-T as a type of immunotherapy.
The organization explains this innovative 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.
“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.”
Now, 18 months later, Adam is in remission and is working to regain some normalcy in his life after enduring the demanding treatment.
“I couldn’t walk,” he recounted. “My recovery has been extremely hard but, touch wood, my myeloma is in complete remission. I’m alive and getting stronger.”
Originally from Stirling, Scotland, Adam is now a proponent of making CAR-T more widely accessible through the NHS and is advocating for more myeloma treatments in Scotland.
He expressed his thankfulness, stating: “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.