First cutting-edge cancer treatment performed at TUH

Warren Hermann is a Charters Towers local, panel beater, and dad who wants to beat cancer so he can finish repairing his late daughter’s Landcruiser project car.

The 72-year-old is a long-term lymphoma cancer sufferer and the first recipient of CAR T-cell therapy at Townsville University Hospital.

The cutting-edge treatment involves removing the T-cells, a type of white blood cell, from the patient’s body and then modifying them with special receptors called Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CAR) before they are multiplied in a lab and reinfused into the patient’s body.

The specialised T-cells can recognise and attack the cancer cells in the patient’s blood.

After battling with lung problems for more than 15 years and having relapsed from treatment for his cancer, Mr Hermann was recognised as the ideal first recipient of this cancer treatment.

He said he was determined to get better and return to work on his daughter’s car.

“My oldest daughter Vanessa was 52 years old when she took her own life and fixing her car will help to give me a bit of closure,” he said.

“Previously my cancer has been slow growing, but it has now shifted to a very aggressive cancer.

“Through my health journey I have also been battling skin cancer and have had several surgeries, more than 60 hits of radiation, and almost two dozen doses of chemotherapy.

“I want to get back to panel beating and spray painting my daughter’s car and finishing it off and I am very optimistic about the CAR T-cell therapy.”

Haematologist and treating physician Dr Joel Wight said having the treatment available in north Queensland would make a world of difference for eligible blood-cancer patients.

“Townsville is the first regional city in Australia to introduce the revolutionary treatment and it will mean patients like Mr Hermann won’t need to travel to Brisbane,” Dr Wight said.

“The process involved collecting Mr Hermann’s T-cells, getting them flown to the United States of America to be modified to fight cancer cells, flown back to Townsville, and then reintroducing them into his body.

“As part of the treatment, Mr Hermann will need to visit the hospital regularly for a month post-treatment, which could have added a huge amount of stress and anxiety if he had to travel to Brisbane.

“We expect to treat five to 10 patients through CAR T-cell therapy during the first year of this new service.”

Townsville Hospital and Health Service chief executive Kieran Keyes said it was a huge team effort to bring the therapy method to north Queensland.

“We have been pushing to bring more advanced medical treatments to north Queensland to ensure the community has access to the best possible care without the burden of travel,” Mr Keyes said.

“It’s very exciting to see Mr Hermann receive this treatment in Townsville because of all the hard work that went into getting CAR T-cell therapy here.

“We are proud to be at the forefront of medical advancements and by expanding our life-saving treatment option, we’re allowing some of the sickest members of our community to access world-class care close to home.”