News Summary
MountainView Hospital in Las Vegas has introduced CAR T-cell therapy for blood cancer patients, providing a significant advancement in local cancer care. Patients like Aryanna Scott Brewer, a mother battling cancer, previously had to travel to California for treatment due to the lack of options in Nevada. This new therapy, which harnesses the immune system to fight cancer, not only offers hope for Aryanna and others but also signifies a leap in oncological care accessibility in the state. The facility aims to bridge gaps in treatment availability and support families needing these critical services.
Las Vegas, Nevada – A significant breakthrough in cancer treatment has occurred with the introduction of CAR T-cell therapy at MountainView Hospital. This innovative treatment is now available to patients suffering from blood cancers, representing a crucial step forward for families who have previously faced challenges in receiving appropriate care within the state.
Aryanna Scott Brewer, a Las Vegas resident and mother of three, was diagnosed with blood cancer during her pregnancy. This shocking discovery came while she was expecting her third child, Ruby Rae, who was born three months prematurely, weighing just 1 pound and 3.6 ounces. After spending her initial 442 days in the hospital, Ruby Rae is now healthy and living at home with her mother. Despite the positive developments regarding her daughter’s health, Aryanna’s ongoing battle with cancer necessitates frequent travel to California for treatment—a situation many families in similar circumstances could face.
Due to the scarcity of pediatric and oncology specialists in Nevada, Aryanna must make the journey back and forth to California every two weeks to receive her medical care. This often means missing important family events such as holidays and birthdays. Prior to the introduction of CAR T-cell therapy, Aryanna’s treatment journey included conventional options such as chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy, which proved ineffective in addressing her illness.
The newly available CAR T-cell therapy, which was administered to Aryanna in Southern California, successfully put her into remission, bringing hope to her family and others in similar situations. This treatment harnesses the body’s immune system to fight cancer more effectively. With MountainView Hospital stepping up as the first facility in Nevada to offer CAR T-cell therapy along with allogeneic stem cell transplants, local patients can now access advanced treatments that were previously unavailable within the state.
Dr. Carolyn Mulroney, who serves as the Medical Director of the Sarah Cannon Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program at MountainView Hospital, has underscored the importance of these innovative treatments. She noted that over half of patients suffering from blood cancers, including acute leukemia and myeloma, often find themselves unable to leave Nevada for necessary treatment, potentially leading to non-curative outcomes with traditional therapies.
The Sarah Cannon Transplant & Cellular Therapy program is designed to feature a state-of-the-art 12,000-square-foot facility, complete with specialists who are relocating to Las Vegas to support this vital program. This endeavor aims to bridge the gap in care for Nevada’s cancer patients, allowing them to receive potentially life-saving treatments closer to home.
In addition to the introduction of CAR T-cell therapy, Intermountain Health has announced plans to further enhance pediatric healthcare in the region by developing a $1 billion free-standing children’s hospital. Scheduled to open in 2030, this facility will have a 150-bed capacity, aiming to meet the growing needs of pediatric patients throughout Southern Nevada.
As healthcare offerings expand in Nevada, patients like Aryanna Scott Brewer can look forward to enhanced treatment opportunities, reducing the burden of travel for care. This development brings hope not only to those affected by blood cancers but also to their families who play a crucial role in their support and recovery.
In summary, the arrival of CAR T-cell therapy at MountainView Hospital marks a significant advancement in cancer care for Nevada residents, promising to change the lives of many patients and providing critical treatment options that were previously unavailable.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Major Advances in Cancer Care Unveiled at ASCO Conference
Additional Resources
- Fox5 Vegas: Groundbreaking Cancer Care in Nevada
- Wikipedia: CAR T-cell Therapy
- 8 News Now: Proposed $50M Cancer Clinic in Clark County
- Google Search: Cancer care Nevada
- KSL: Successful T-cell Therapy for Hematologic Cancers
- Google Scholar: Cancer immunotherapy
- Urology Times: Redefining Treatment of Bladder Cancer
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Cancer immunotherapy
