Professor David Curtis has focused his research on searching for new ways to treat early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ETP-ALL) which he describes as “a nasty type of leukaemia”.
The ability to use haploidentical donors, or half matched donors, is the most important recent development in stem cell transplantation, says world leader in transplant research, Professor David Curtis.
Vicky Pellowe was just 29 years old when she was diagnosed with Stage 4 Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Vicky and her husband had only been married six months, both working long hours as FIFO workers in Western Australia. Vicky speaks about the shock of mental recovery post treatment - how to try and remain positive while experiencing fear of relapse, side effects, potential infertility, body changes and loss of employment or finances. She also speaks about the journey into motherhood and how she was blessed with two miracle babies post treatment, without IVF.
Picture this - it was the year 2021 and Melbourne had just come out of its 5th lockdown. Renae and her partner, Sam escaped the 5km radius and went to the beach. Renae remembers feeling a lump in her throat which she thought could have been tonsillitis. One doctor's visit changed Renae's life - she was diagnosed with anaplastic large T-cell lymphoma. Renae talks about what it was like to be diagnosed during the Covid-19 pandemic in Melbourne, and how hospital restrictions impacted her support network during some of the toughest times of her treatment.
Damien Thompson was diagnosed with ALL in 2010 at the age of just 23. He underwent a donor-related allogeneic transplant and suffered severe GVHD. A number of years later post his bone marrow transplant, he had to undergo a double lung transplant. Damien shares pearls of wisdom about how he got through the challenging transplant. He speaks about remembering to celebrate the small wins, as those small wins turn into big gains. Damien made it his challenge to not let leukaemia win.
Adelaide man Graham Lewis had two stem-cell transplants and was left with severe graft-versus-host disease. He believes the existence of OCPs would have greatly improved his quality of life.
