“The Princess Margaret is committed to finding new therapies to treat cancers like mine.”
Terry Johnston talks about his cancer diagnosis with the same candor his listeners are used to hearing on his daily radio show at CKDO Oshawa. “When the doctor told me I had non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, I just said, ‘Ok – treat me,’” Terry recalled.After two failed chemo treatments, The Princess Margaret had the solution to Terry’s growing abdominal tumour. He was placed under the care of Dr. Anca Prica, a hematologist, who told him he’d be a good candidate for immunotherapy, specifically CAR T-cell therapy. This new advancement in cancer treatment involved harnessing Terry’s own immune system to fight his cancer – and it worked. Today, Terry is living free from the fear of cancer.
Previously only available through a clinical trial at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, CAR T-cell therapy is now the standard of care for patients – and has been for the past five years. “It’s just so remarkable to see how The Princess Margaret has pioneered the use of CAR T-cell therapy. The commitment to pursue new and innovative treatments is a hallmark of The Princess Margaret”, says Dr. Prica. “The innovation, the research opportunities, and the options we can provide to patients today is unrivaled.”
Throughout her 10-year career at The Princess Margaret, Dr. Prica has seen the impact of philanthropy on her research first-hand. “Fundraising is critical to everything we do,” she said. “It’s only through fundraising that we have the resources to drive studies to improve new treatments like CAR T-cell therapy.”
“Fundraising is critical to everything we do.”
Dr. Anca Prica
Hematologist, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre