Young Father Finds Hope in Experimental Cancer Treatment
At the age of 25, a young father, who was working as a mechanic, saw a red flag when he noticed blood in his stool. His doctor initially thought it was hemorrhoids, a common ailment for people working in physically demanding jobs. However, a year and a half later, a colonoscopy revealed that he had colorectal cancer. His treatment involved a surgery that removed 16 inches of his colon.
After recovering, he was hopeful that he had overcome the worst of the disease. He returned to his job and spent cherished time with his young daughter. During a routine check-up, his wife, who noticed he was sleeping more than usual, insisted on a full body scan. Despite feeling fine, the scan revealed that his cancer was back, and it had spread. There were 13 tumors in his lungs, with one the size of a golf ball. His prognosis was grim, with doctors estimating he had about two years to live, even with treatment.
Choosing Clinical Trials Over Traditional Treatment
The father was diagnosed with microsatellite stable colorectal cancer, a type usually treated with chemotherapy and radiation. Despite knowing that chemotherapy could control the disease for at least six months for a majority of patients, he was hesitant about the side effects and impact on his quality of life. His wife, a pharmacy technician, began searching for alternatives.
She applied to several clinical trials, one of which was being conducted by a gastrointestinal oncologist at a prominent university. This particular trial was studying the effects of immunotherapy on microsatellite stable colorectal cancer. Traditionally, immunotherapy is only used after multiple rounds of chemotherapy have failed. Previous trials showed that the treatment managed to control the disease in 70% of patients. The new trial was testing the effects of using immunotherapy as the first line of defense.
Positive Results from the Clinical Trial
Despite the risks, the father agreed to participate in the trial, as he felt the potential benefits outweighed his concerns. He was one of 15 patients enrolled in the trial. The participants received an immunotherapy infusion every two weeks, with scans taken every six to eight weeks to monitor the disease.
Surprisingly, his scans showed a significant reduction in the size and number of his tumors, going from 13 to just three. The largest tumor shrunk to just 0.6 millimeters, a considerable decrease from the initial golfball-sized tumor. He experienced some side effects such as rashes, headaches, nausea, and dizziness, but these subsided after a few months into the treatment.
Implications for Future Cancer Treatment
The treatment's success has sparked hope for further research into immunotherapy as a first-line treatment. More studies might combine immunotherapy with other treatments. It's a long way from becoming a standard treatment for microsatellite stable colorectal cancer, but his case shows that it's possible. Researchers are also interested in identifying patients who may respond better to immunotherapy.
Although he is not completely cancer-free, his disease is no longer considered terminal. He continues to visit the university every two weeks for an infusion. His family and church community have provided him with essential support throughout his journey. This experience has taught him to appreciate every moment of life. He believes that if you're able to wake up each day and breathe, you should make the most of it.