by Tim Collins

tcollins@thekmgroup.co.uk

A sixth form student has spoken of the life-saving "miracle" cure that helped him fight off cancer.

In 2007, Andy Wicks, then aged 12, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, a cancer of the bone marrow.

Now 17 and studying for his AS Levels at Ashford’s Norton Knatchbull School, Andy then underwent intensive chemotherapy and radiation treatments, which, at first, appeared to have beaten back the disease.

But in 2010, after almost three years cancer free, things took a turn for the worse and the disease returned.

Andy, who lives in Orion Way, Willesborough, said: "At first, it’s really scary and you don’t really know what’s going on.

"At that age I didn’t really know what leukaemia was, but I knew it was cancer and it ended up taking over my life.

"And when they discovered I’d relapsed, my defences were down because I was so close to the end of treatment. I expected to be OK."

Unable to find a suitable bone marrow donor, the outlook for Andy was bleak.

But in April 2010 he was transferred to University College Hospital in London, under the care of Dr Rachael Hough, who administered the "cord blood" treatment that saved Andy’s life.

Andy is still being monitored, but with every day that passes the chances of the cancer returning diminish.

Throughout his experience Andy has managed to remain upbeat and after 18 months cancer free, he is now looking to the future.

"You just have to take one day at a time and try to see the good in things," he said.

"A lot of good came out of it, particularly in bringing the family closer together.

"And now that I’ve got my life back I’m hoping to do something in biology, because I think the whole experience with stem cells has captivated me.

"It’s an amazing development, and I wouldn’t be here without it."

Andy was recently invited to meet Public Health Minister Anne Milton at a new facility, that it is hoped will help others to beat cancer.

The NHS Cord Blood Bank at University College Hospital collects umbilical cord blood donated by mothers of newborn babies, to be used in their pioneering treatment of the disease.

It is one of six such facilities in the South East, with plans to set up more.

Andy told the minister of the work done by staff at UCH and the treatment they offer, which he says "gave me back my life".

The facility specialises in a unique procedure that utilises stem cells – the building blocks from which specialised cells in the body form – harvested from blood donated from the umbilical cords of newborn babies.

When doctors transfused these cells into his blood, Andy’s body was able to replace the cancerous white-blood cells that were destroyed by chemical and radiation therapy with healthy ones.

A third of women now choose to donate their cord blood and Andy hopes this will increase.

"I would urge new mums to definitely consider donating their cord blood," Andy said. "It’s like giving life twice.

"You have the benefit of having a child and the patient has the benefit of staying alive."