Brisbane doctors confident of deadly brain cancer cure
Brisbane doctors believe they may have found a cure for a deadly type of brain cancer.
Algester man Michael Oldano has spent the last four months fighting brain cancer and has become the first in the world to undergo a new immuno-therapy treatment .
He's had surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy - but it's the pain free treatment he's having now that could save his life.
"It's more hopeful than any other kind of treatment than anyone will explain to you when you have cancer," Oldano told 7 News.
"It's as simple as that."
The father of three was given between three and 14 months to live when he was diagnosed with Glioblastoma.
He's the first patient in the world to receive a new treatment designed to boost the immune system.
"Hopefully they'll be a cure in the future but having extra days right now is all that really matters," wife Carolyn told 7 News.
A sample of his blood was taken a month ago before researchers grew the number of white blood cells in the sample.
They are now re-injecting that blood back into his body.
"Those cells get in the blood system and seek out that target and kill the brain cancer cells," Dr David Walker Neurosurgeon told 7 News.
"I would hope that some people would be cured of the disease."
More than 150 people in south-east Queensland are diagnosed with the disease each year.
It's the most common form of cancer in people under 40 - their life expectancy is just 12 months.
If the treatment proves successful, doctors believe they can use the same technology to treat other forms of cancer.
It will be years before they know if the treatment is successful.
A clinical trial is taking part at the Wesley-St Andrew’s Research Institute.
For more information contact immunotherapy at qimrberghofer.edu.au.
