A revolutionary cancer treatment that uses the immune system to kill cancer cells has been introduced at NHS Grampian.
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary has been named as a regional CAR-T (Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell) treatment centre for the North of Scotland.
Patients previously had to travel hundreds of miles, including to the North of England, for treatment.
The therapy works by taking T-cells – blood cells which protect people from disease and infection – from a patient. These are then genetically modified in a laboratory to allow them to find and kill cancer cells before being returned to the patient.
Consultant haematologist, Gavin Preston said: “We’re delighted to announce we’ve gained this status after a long process and a lot of hard work by our Haematology team.
“CAR-T therapy is a revolutionary new cellular therapy using a product developed for each individual patient, which involves re-programming cells from the patient’s own immune system cells, to target their cancer.
“This treatment is specifically for certain types of lymphoma and leukaemia and was previously delivered by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow, for the whole of Scotland.
“So it is a huge benefit to our patients across the north, north-east and the isles to get this treatment closer to home.
“It cements ARI as a centre of excellence in haematology and will attract high quality staff to work in the region as well as improving training and education for our teams.”
Gavin Preston
Richard Jennings, from Aberdeen, received CAR-T treatment in Newcastle in - making a 500 miles roundtrip for treatment.
He said he was “exceptionally grateful” for the treatment he received - but that it would make life easier had it been available in the north-east.
“Normally Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma responds well to chemo, but I was one it didn’t and CAR-T, for me, was a lifesaver,” the 62-year-old retiree said.
“Going to Newcastle was obviously more effort than being here in the north-east – but in reality, it gave me a chance to live, which was fantastic.
“There’s no doubt it’s great it’s available in Aberdeen, I was just slightly too early. Some people are less able to travel than I was.”
Nancy Gray, from Aberdeen, was the first patient to have the treatment at ARI.
“It’s terrific to have this on our doorstep. It removed a lot of stress and worry for me. I would have travelled if I had to, but having it here was a real bonus,” the 68-year-old said.
“It cuts down distances for patients in the whole region and terrific for the whole of north Scotland.
Nancy, who is retired, added: “I’m doing really well. I got the all clear recently and I’m absolutely over moon. Chemo wasn’t working for my cancer. I’d just like to thank all the staff for looking after me.”