[ad_1]
"Nobody knew how he or the other patients in the trial would react," says Mellie. "And during the trial, no one was allowed to meet. So we had no idea before seeing the movie that others might have had a different experience.
"But we were given as much information as the doctors could give, and the nursing was outstanding."
Tafter a first treatment, Graham took a summer temperature at the end of the first day. During the first week, his temperature reached 43 ° C at one point, but doctors were reluctant to prescribe anything that could interfere with CAR T cells.
"Graham has not remembered much of this week," says Mellie, "and he later said we had more work to do for him. All he had to do was go better.
Once the fever subsided, doctors took a bone marrow sample to determine if the treatment had worked. Disappointingly, the cancer cells were still present, although in smaller numbers.
After a few weeks of recuperation, Graham found the therapy, which he tolerated easily, which was disturbing in itself, as there was no outward sign that CAR T therapy had done anything.
Another bone marrow sample proved that was the case.
Graham left UCL after 72 days of trial, half of which was spent by Mellie at his side.
After very difficult conversations, Mellie said sadly, "We decided that there was little hope that a third attempt would work."
It was time for Graham to enjoy last summer in the garden rather than in a crowded hospital room. Time for wine with friends and take the kids for short walks on his beloved bike. It's time to write letters – many of them – to those he likes, and to arrange flowers for Mellie for their birthday on July 22nd.
However, leukemia had already caught up with Graham and he died at Stoke Mandeville Hospital on July 6, 2018. The birthday bouquet arrived a week after his funeral.
Mellie says the family has no regrets about seeing Graham enter the trial, despite the lack of results. After his death, they worked with friends to raise nearly £ 70,000 to pay a clinical practice facilitator for the CART trials through the charity Hematology Cancer Care on behalf of Graham.
"He has tried other people," she says. "We never thought it would cure him, but we have always lived in hope. We had just hoped a few happier months together.
War In The Blood is available on BBC Iplayer. To support the Threader family's fundraising campaign, visit justgiving.com/campaign/HCC
[ad_2]
Source link
