21 Nov 2024
Months after undergoing a life-saving bone marrow transplant, a St Albans leukaemia patient is celebrating a milestone in his recovery.
Former Verulam School pupil Ben Collins has now passed 130 days since undergoing vital treatment for a rare blood cancer condition called acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
Aged just 24, with a loving family and girlfriend and an exciting career working for London advertising company, he was diagnosed with the condition on Christmas Day.
Earlier this year his family and friends organised a Swab Day at Old Verulamiums Rugby Club in a bid to find a potential stem cell donor and raise awareness of the urgent need for more people to register.
Ultimately his donor came from another source, and he underwent his transplant at the start of July.
His mum Katrina explained what progress he has made in the three months since: “The big day for us was day 100 – and Ben did have a little celebration – just his girlfriend, his brother Joe and two best mates at home hanging out. Something very normal for most people but incredibly special for Ben. Something he’s not been able to do for a long time.
“Monday, 18th November 2024, was Ben’s 130 days after transplant. And there is good news. We had his results of his first bone marrow biopsy – one has to be done at three months, six months, nine months and 12 months after transplant.
“We are absolutely over the moon to say that Ben now has zero per cent cancer cells and 100 per cent donor cells. They tested two molecular markers for his leukaemia and they came back as negative. So, his whole system is new and none of his old cells are hanging around!! The consultant said he is in the top 20 per cent of people for how well he is doing.”
She said it has taken a while for them all process: “Strangely we didn’t jump for joy when we found out. I kept wondering why I didn’t feel elated like everyone else.
“But we talked about it and realised that Ben’s day to day life hasn’t changed yet. He still has a fair way to go and he still has very tough days, physically and mentally.
“He is still on steroids to stop the graft vs host disease – where the donors cells attack his body – and is still on immunosuppressant drugs among many others.
“But what it has done is given Ben a massive boost to keep going. It is a very slow process but his consultant said it is one of the most complicated things the body can do – have a stem cell transplant. That put it into perspective for Ben and he knows he just needs to give it time.”
Katrina said the response from people who have supported Ben and his story – and there are a lot – has been absolutely amazing.
“In telling everyone the news it has really helped to process things and realise how incredibly lucky Ben is. He has remained an absolute star the whole way through this and there have been many low moments.
“We were warned that having a stem cell transplant would be tough – and it really was! The pre-treatment was absolutely brutal and then what he had to suffer after was so difficult to watch as a mother. But he is here and doing so well and has continued to make us all laugh the whole way through. I am so proud of how he has dealt with this.
She said the support he has had from his girlfriend Emma, brothers, family and friends has been unbelievable, adding: “How can I ever thank the donor enough for what she did?
“She truly is a life- saver. I know that the situation hasn’t changed, as charities like DKMS are still desperately pushing to get more donors on the register. So please still spread
the word and if you send off for a kit, please please send it back – around 50 per cent of the home kits do not get sent back.
“If you are eligible then please consider saving a life. Ben would not be here with us if they had not found a donor – it was his only chance. Thank you to everyone who has registered so far. I promise if you follow DKMS on Instagram and see their messages, you will want to be on that register.”
To register, visit DKMS.org.uk
