Student Andy Wicks tells of lifesaving treatment for cancer
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by Tim Collins
tcollins@thekmgroup.co.uk
A sixth form student has spoken
of the life-saving "miracle" cure that helped him fight off
cancer.
In 2007, Andy Wicks, then aged 12, was
diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, a cancer of the bone
marrow.
Now 17 and studying for his AS
Levels at Ashford’s Norton Knatchbull School, Andy then underwent
intensive chemotherapy and radiation treatments, which, at first,
appeared to have beaten back the disease.
But in 2010, after almost three years
cancer free, things took a turn for the worse and the disease
returned.
Andy, who lives in Orion Way,
Willesborough, said: "At first, it’s really scary and you don’t
really know what’s going on.
"At that age I didn’t really know what
leukaemia was, but I knew it was cancer and it ended up taking over
my life.
"And when they discovered I’d
relapsed, my defences were down because I was so close to the end
of treatment. I expected to be OK."
Unable to find a suitable bone marrow
donor, the outlook for Andy was bleak.
But in April 2010 he was transferred
to University College Hospital in London, under the care of Dr
Rachael Hough, who administered the "cord blood" treatment that
saved Andy’s life.
Andy is
still being monitored, but with every day that passes the chances
of the cancer returning diminish.
Throughout his experience Andy has
managed to remain upbeat and after 18 months cancer free, he is now
looking to the future.
"You just have to take one day at a
time and try to see the good in things," he said.
"A lot of good came out of it,
particularly in bringing the family closer together.
"And now that I’ve got my life back
I’m hoping to do something in biology, because I think the whole
experience with stem cells has captivated me.
"It’s an amazing development, and I
wouldn’t be here without it."
Andy was recently invited to meet
Public Health Minister Anne Milton at a new facility, that it is
hoped will help others to beat cancer.
The NHS Cord Blood Bank at University
College Hospital collects umbilical cord blood donated by mothers
of newborn babies, to be used in their pioneering treatment of the
disease.
It is one of six such facilities in
the South East, with plans to set up more.
Andy told the minister of the work
done by staff at UCH and the treatment they offer, which he says
"gave me back my life".
The facility specialises in a unique
procedure that utilises stem cells – the building blocks from which
specialised cells in the body form – harvested from blood donated
from the umbilical cords of newborn babies.
When doctors transfused these cells
into his blood, Andy’s body was able to replace the cancerous
white-blood cells that were destroyed by chemical and radiation
therapy with healthy ones.
A third of women now choose to donate
their cord blood and Andy hopes this will increase.
"I would urge new mums to definitely
consider donating their cord blood," Andy said. "It’s like giving
life twice.
"You have the benefit of having a
child and the patient has the benefit of staying alive."
Thursday, January 26 2012
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