Hearing news of the impressive outcomes of the clinical trial that Dr. Kelly led, which resulted in a new therapy for esophageal or gastroesophageal junction cancers, was a moment to remember for Jeff York, a member of the Baylor Scott & White Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center Dallas advisory board and a generous donor who has chosen to help support Hope Lodge.
“I was quite emotional in the recent board meeting when Dr. Kelly made this announcement because in the recent past, we would not have had this kind of breakthrough in immunotherapy for this type of cancer,” York recalled of that moment.
York is more than a dedicated board member; he’s also a patient who spends every Wednesday at the Sammons Center for infusions to keep his own esophageal and gastroesophageal junction cancer at bay.
While esophageal and gastroesophageal junction cancers are seeing a significant increase in the U.S. and in other industrialized countries, the breakthroughs in treatment have not kept pace with the advancement of the disease, York expressed.
“Dr. Kelly has created a very impactful and powerful advancement in treatment for this cancer,” he said. “For the first time in so many years, there is great hope for those battling this disease.
“Clinical trials in immunotherapy are essential to the future of treatment, and we are grateful for the brilliant doctors and scientists who dedicate their lives to finding a cure.”
