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Michael LockettBritish tycoon with neck cancer uses genetically engineered herpes virus to cure it
Country:
 Great Britain |
Content:
- Battling the Disease
- A Breakthrough Treatment
- Imlygic: A Game-Changer for Cancer Treatment
- Raising Awareness and Advocating for Access
- A Promising Future
British Tycoon Michael Lockett Finds Hope in Genetically Modified Herpes Virus for Neck Cancer Treatment
Michael Lockett, the businessman behind London's 2012 Olympics, made headlines for being one of the first patients to beat neck cancer using an innovative treatment that vaccinates the body against tumors using a herpes virus.
Battling the Disease
In 2009, Lockett, then a 68-year-old event organizer, discovered a lump under his jaw. Initially diagnosed and treated for tonsillitis, further tests revealed that the cancer had spread to his lymph nodes. He underwent aggressive radiation therapy and six months of chemotherapy at the renowned Royal Marsden Hospital in London.
A Breakthrough Treatment
Despite the grim prognosis of 12 months to live, Lockett refused to give up hope. He approached Professor Kevin Harrington at The Institute of Cancer Research, who had been developing Imlygic, a drug that uses a genetically engineered herpes virus to target tumors specifically.
Imlygic: A Game-Changer for Cancer Treatment
The herpes virus, modified through gene engineering, infects only cancer cells, leaving healthy cells unharmed. As the virus replicates, infected cancer cells burst open, releasing the virus into the surrounding environment, which triggers an immune response to eliminate any remaining cancer.
Within just three injections, Lockett's tumor showed significant shrinkage, and after the third injection, no signs of it were detected. Lockett became cancer-free.
Raising Awareness and Advocating for Access
Lockett has since become involved with Oracle, a charity dedicated to raising awareness of head and neck cancer. He has been instrumental in calling for the National Health Service (NHS) and drug companies to reconsider the availability and pricing of Imlygic.
A Promising Future
Professor Harrington believes that Imlygic has the potential to revolutionize cancer treatment, particularly for cancers of the liver, bowel, and kidney. Lockett's remarkable recovery is a testament to the power of personalized medicine and the hope that it offers to cancer patients.
