Research saved Simon’s life – it could save others too

Running out of options

Simon’s initial treatment began at Icon Cancer Centre, where his care team moved quickly to begin chemotherapy. At first, Simon responded well to chemotherapy. But then the cancer came back – not once, but twice.

“My doctors said I was running out of options. Running out of time,” he says.

Simon’s last hope was a promising breakthrough in cancer treatment, CAR T-cell therapy – a form of immunotherapy.

Like many medical advances, it exists only because of research.

“CAR T-cell therapy didn’t even exist a decade ago,” says Simon. “Without research, it wouldn’t exist now, and I wouldn’t be here.”

The power of a breakthrough

As CAR T-cell therapy wasn’t available in Australia at the time – and remains limited to a few public hospitals here – Simon travelled to Boston for treatment.

The therapy worked. Simon has now been in remission for five years. He’s back in the cockpit doing what he loves and cherishing every moment with his family.

“When you come that close to losing everything, you don’t take anything for granted. I owe my life to research and to the people who support it,” he says.

“I owe my life to research and to the people who support it.”