Cancer survivor fights for new opportunities for future patients

Bob Wilkes didn't think he had many options when he was diagnosed with stage IVmelanomain early 2012. Born and raised in South Carolina, he sought treatment there, and despite unfavorable long-term statistics, he and his wife, Pam, were positive after his successful surgery.

But in 2014, Wilkes learned the cancer had returned and metastasized to both lungs. His daughter was recently engaged, and he was told he may not live until her wedding.

Doctors advised him to beginlung cancertreatment immediately.

"Luckily, my sister-in-law is a physician," he says. "She told us firmly, 'You're going toMD Anderson“。

天左ater, the Wilkeses met with帕特里克HWU，医学博士, division head,Cancer Medicine.

"We could tell immediately he was compassionate, caring and totally devoted to his patients," says Wilkes. "The whole experience was unlike anything we had ever seen. We observed cancer patients smiling, positive and happy to be atMD Anderson. You just don't expect to see that at a cancer center."

Immunotherapy, which activates the immune system to help fight cancer, has been successful in treating certain types of melanoma. Unfortunately, due to his autoimmune diseases, Wilkes was not a candidate for this therapy.

"I've had psoriasis since I was 17 and arthritis for the past 12 years," he says. "When you hear about a hot new treatment on the market, but you cannot have it, the air quickly goes out of your sails."

"Immunotherapy treatments activate the body's entire immune system, and they can exacerbate pre-existing autoimmune diseases," says Hwu. "Morecancer research做需要知道如何安全应用免疫治疗给患者自身免疫性疾病“。

Wilkes underwent two thoracotomies with lung resections, one on each lung. He recovered in time to walk his daughter down the aisle in October 2014.

Throughout this journey, the Wilkeses wondered, "Why not? Why not find a way for autoimmune patients to receive lifesaving癌症治疗？为什么不找一个方法来治疗自身免疫性疾病和癌症吗？”

The couple created the Wilkes Family Cancer Autoimmune Research Fund and donated $1 million to support Hwu's research into immunotherapies for autoimmune patients.

"We are highly impressed with Dr. Hwu and his top-caliber research team," says Wilkes. "There is an opportunity here ― not only to cure cancer, but also to perhaps cure other autoimmune diseases like arthritis. We are hoping that other cancer patients with autoimmune diseases will read this article and join us in this fight."