Nick, a patient from Bristol Hospital, was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) in December 2021. Just hours before receiving his life-changing diagnosis, he was at work when he suddenly felt weak, breathless, and as though his legs had turned to jelly. Concerned, he visited his doctor that evening and had blood tests taken. The next morning, his doctor called with urgent news – his blood levels were dangerously low at 47%, and they were astonished he was still standing.
Nick’s immediate response to his diagnosis? “How do we fix it?” His positive attitude became his greatest strength as he faced an uncertain road ahead.
After his diagnosis, Nick was presented with a critical choice. Standard treatment for AML often involves intensive chemotherapy or a stem cell transplant. However, with no suitable donor available for a transplant, his options were limited. That’s when he was introduced to the VICTOR trial, a groundbreaking clinical trial available at TAP Centres across the UK, comparing a combination of two targeted drugs to traditional chemotherapy. This trial, specifically designed for AML patients aged 60 and over, offered a less toxic and more manageable treatment option.
Thanks to the support of Cure Leukaemia-funded research nurses, Nick was able to enroll in the trial – giving him access to cutting-edge treatment that he could manage largely from the comfort of his own home. His regimen included daily chemotherapy injections and Venetoclax tablets, significantly reducing the intensity of hospital stays and side effects.
Nick’s journey has not been without challenges. In 2021, he was hospitalised for over a week due to COVID-19. Shortly after returning home, he was readmitted with sepsis, a life-threatening infection that left him temporarily paralysed. Initially told he could be in the hospital for three months, his determination saw him discharged in just three weeks – learning to walk again in record time.
Throughout his AML treatment, Nick has continued to show incredible strength. Every nine weeks, he undergoes a bone marrow biopsy, an uncomfortable but necessary part of his treatment. But for him, it’s simply “What I have to do.”
Nick’s story highlights the critical role of clinical trials in offering new hope to blood cancer patients. Without the VICTOR trial, his treatment options would have been severely limited due to the lack of a stem cell donor. Instead, he has been able to receive an effective, less toxic treatment while maintaining a better quality of life.
This is exactly why Cure Leukaemia funds research nurses—to ensure more patients like Nick can access life-saving trials. These nurses play an essential role in delivering trials, supporting patients, and driving forward medical progress in the fight against blood cancer.
Through research and innovation, we can continue to transform lives. With your support, more patients will have the chance to say, like Nick, “How do we fix it?”—and find the answers they need.
Running 25 marathons in 25 days to raise funds for Cure Leukaemia. Starting on April 27th with the London Marathon and finishing on May 21st in his hometown of Hull, Sam is pushing his physical and mental limits to support life-saving research.
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