'I'm one of the lucky ones': Cancer patient first to receive Car-T cell therapy in Aberdeen

The first cancer patient to receive groundbreaking treatment in Aberdeen says she is “over the moon” to be in remission.

Nancy Gray, 68, underwent Car T (Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell) therapy, a highly effective form of immunotherapy, at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary to treat lymphoma last November.

The procedure, which takes a patient’s own cells, genetically modifies them and returns them to fight cancer, is now available in the north of Scotland for the first time.

The hospital has been named as the regional CAR-T centre for the north of Scotland, ending the need for patients to travel as far as Newcastle for the life-saving treatment.

Nancy told STV News: “It was unknown to me and scary. I can’t say I wasn’t frightened, but I knew they were looking after me and they were doing the best for me.”

The pensioner was first diagnosed with cancer in her spleen in 2023. She was given the all-clear the following April, but within weeks the disease returned.

While on holiday in Blackpool, she began experiencing severe sinus pain. A scan later revealed a lymphoma mass behind her nose.

“I was devastated. It’s the one thing you don’t think of – it’s unthinkable, unbelievable what goes through your mind. You just think, ‘why me?’ But why anybody?

“I thought, I’ve beaten it once, I’ll beat it again.”

Her husband Jim said: “I crumbled inside. I didn’t know what to do for Nancy, I couldn’t make her better. I tried to hide it as much as I could, but I went to pieces.”

When chemotherapy failed, Nancy was offered a lifeline. Doctors told her she would be the first patient in Aberdeen to receive the new cellular therapy in November 2024.

CAR-T treatment involves collecting a patient’s T-cells – a type of white blood cell that helps protect against disease – and reprogramming them in a laboratory to recognise and destroy cancer cells. These modified cells are then infused back into the patient to fight cancer.

It’s usually given to people with blood cancers, such as lymphoma and leukaemia, who have relapsed and haven’t responded to other treatments, such as chemotherapy or transplants.

Consultant haematologist Gavin Preston described the treatment as “a massive breakthrough.”

Aberdeen Royal Infirmary introduced Car-T therapy last November STV News

“It’s a new way of treating cancer which uses a specific cellular mechanism, different from standard chemotherapy.

“Previously, patients had to travel to Newcastle. I’ve personally treated someone who wouldn’t even travel to Glasgow – he’s only still with us because we were able to give this treatment here.

“It’s a huge benefit to patients across the north, north-east and the islands to have access closer to home.”

After a follow-up scan, doctors told Nancy in July that she was in remission. She and her husband Jim recently celebrated the news with a summer holiday in Spain.

“I’m absolutely over the moon,” she said. “There were a lot of tears that day. I’m lucky I got it done here – some people haven’t been that lucky.

“It’s a scary process to go through, but you have to look at the bigger picture.

“The team have been amazing and I can’t thank them enough.”

Jim added: “I burst out crying. Nancy’s gone through everything, but for me it felt like somebody had just taken an anvil off my chest. I could breathe again.”

Consultant haematologist Gavin Preston STV News

For some patients, treatment came too soon to benefit from Aberdeen’s new centre. Richard Jennings, 62, from Aberdeen, underwent CAR-T therapy in Newcastle, making the 500-mile round trip.

“Normally Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma responds well to chemo, but for me it didn’t – and CAR-T was a life-saver,” he said.

“Going to Newcastle was obviously more effort than being here in the north-east, but it gave me a chance to live, which was fantastic.

There’s no doubt it’s great, it’s available in Aberdeen now – I was just slightly too early. Some people are less able to travel than I was.”

Clinical nurse specialist Laura Mallarkey said the treatment has been “life-changing” for patients and their families.

“They now have less distance to travel as we can offer support locally,” she added.

“We’re very lucky to work with such dedicated healthcare professionals and we also have such valuable third sector support – Haven, Maggies and Friends of Anchor, who show first-hand how beneficial they are for supporting patients and families.”