The family of a teenage boy, who has fought off cancer seven times in a decade has told how they’re pinning their hopes on a radical new treatment to kill off tumours.
Nathanael Brueck, 13, from Cuxhaven, Lower Saxony State, Germany, was first diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour aged just three.
At the time, Nathanael’s parents and his twin brother Nicolas believed surgery could remove the cancer.
His father, Michael Brueck, told German newspaper Bild: “This tumour usually occurs in early childhood. Eighty per cent of the time it won’t come back after treatment.”
But each time surgeons have removed the tumour, says Nathanael’s family, it has grown back.
Dad Michael explained: “Unfortunately, nothing has been able to stop the illness so far.”
Now the family hopes Nathaniel can finally defeat the disease after an op that reduced the size of the tumour by 95 per cent.
He must now undergo new and expensive CAR T-cell therapy, a form of immunotherapy for blood cancer, at the Bambino Gesu Children’s Hospital, in Rome, Italy.
Patients’ blood is bombarded with billions of special cells which can eradicate the tumour completely.
Nathanael, who is set to start his treatment this month (April) , has been enrolled in a clinical trial that is covered by his health insurance.
But In order to support him his family have turned to the public to ask for donations to help cover a four-month stay in Rome while Nathanael is treated.
Dad Michael, who has launched a GoFundMe campaign, said: “A phase I clinical trial began there a few weeks ago, in which Nathanael could be included and treated with CAR-T cells.
“Such a treatment would otherwise still be possible worldwide in Seattle (USA), but it uses different receptors that have not yet been proven in him. In this respect, we only have hope in Rome.
“Preparations will begin on site from the beginning of April 2024. Participation in the study requires us to be in Rome for at least four months at a time.
“However, this period can easily be extended by two-three months and we will then have to travel to Rome for several days of examinations for up to 15 years.”
Michael added: “The whole family would be deeply grateful for support in our fight for our son’s life.
“As a father, I fight just as much as his mother to ensure that we do not lose our beloved son. We need your help and support now.”
The appeal has reached more than EUR 72,000 (GBP 61,000) of the EUR 150,000 (GBP 128,000) goal as of 17th April.
