Ukusinda Emathubeni: Uhambo Lweminyaka Engu-14 Lokuqina Ekulweni Ne-Stage IV Melanoma
Ngo-2010, eneminyaka engu-48 ubudala, uJennifer Ficko wathola ukuxilongwa okushintsha impilo: i-melanoma yesigaba sesi-4. Lokho okwaqala njengeqhubu elibonakala lingenangozi ekhanda lakhe kwagcina kuholele ekushaqekeni kweThanksgiving lapho odokotela beqinisekisa ukwesaba kwakhe okukhulu. Umhlaba kaJennifer, kanye nowomndeni wakhe, washintsha ngobusuku obubodwa njengoba bebhekene neqiniso elibuhlungu lomdlavuza osesigabeni sokugcina. Njengoba bengenazo izinketho ezilinganiselwe, uJennifer nabathandekayo bakhe bafuna isiqondiso futhi ekugcineni baxhumana nochwepheshe abaphambili eSmilow Cancer Hospital eYale.
Ekuqaleni, uJennifer wahlinzwa ukuze kususwe isimila kanye nama-lymph node athintekile. Waphinde wabamba iqhaza ezivivinyweni zemitholampilo ezihlola ama-immune checkpoint inhibitors afana ne-Yervoy (ipilimumab) kanye nokwelashwa okuhlanganisiwe ne-Nivolumab. Ngenkathi ethola impendulo ethile, uJennifer wabhekana nemiphumela emibi kakhulu, okuhlanganisa ukuvaleka kwe-retinal kanye nokulahlekelwa ukuzwa, kodwa waqhubeka nokulwa.
Ushintsho olukhulu lwafika ngo-2017 lapho udokotela wakhe womdlavuza, uDkt. Harriet Kluger, emncoma ukuthi enze isivivinyo esisha somtholampilo e-Yale Cancer Center, esigxile ekwelashweni kwe-Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocyte (TIL). Ngale ndlela yesimanje, abacwaningi bakhipha futhi bandisa ama-T-cell akhe, abe esefakwa emzimbeni wakhe ukuze athuthukise impendulo yakhe yomzimba yokulwa nomdlavuza. Ukwelashwa okunamandla kwabangela ukusabela okunamandla ngokomzimba kodwa ekugcineni kwaqala ukunciphisa amathumba akhe.
Inqubo kaJennifer yokululama yayinde futhi iyinselele. Amandla akhe nokuqina, kanye nokusekelwa komndeni wakhe njalo, kwamsiza ukuba anqobe lesi sikhathi esinzima. Namuhla, uJennifer akanawo umdlavuza futhi useneminyaka engaphezu kweyisikhombisa ephila. Eneminyaka engu-61, ucabanga ngohambo lwakhe ngokubonga nangenjongo, egcizelela ukuthi ukuba nethemba nokuqina kubalulekile ekulweni nomdlavuza. Izingane zakhe, eziphefumulelwe uhambo lukanina, manje ziphishekela imisebenzi yezokwelapha.
Indaba kaJennifer igcizelela amandla okuguqula ukwelashwa kwe-TIL, okuye kwavunyelwa ngokushesha yi-FDA, futhi kunikeza ithemba ezigulini eziningi ezibhekene nezimpi ezinzima ezifanayo. Ukuqina kwakhe nokuzimisela kwakhe ukuphila ngokugcwele kusebenza njengesibani sethemba, okubonisa ukuthi ngokusekelwa komndeni, intuthuko ekwelashweni. Ukwelashwa Komdlavuza, kanye nombono omuhle, izimangaliso zingenzeka.