“Clinical trials are not just science experiments. They are hope. They are progress. And in my case, they were the difference between surviving and truly living.”

Stephanie shares her experience of participating in the ALLG BM12 CAST clinical trial.

In October 2013 at just 15 years of age, my world changed overnight. I went from being a vibrant, energetic teenager to grappling with the physical and emotional toll of cancer treatment. A diagnosis of Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) came out of nowhere, and my life was thrown into chaos.

The following three years were filled with challenges – managing school, friendships, family, and chemotherapy. But in March 2016, I had my final lumbar puncture. I was in remission, and my family and I celebrated the end of a gruelling chapter.

The Uncertainty of Relapse

For years, I rebuilt my life – studying, working, and trying to live as though cancer was firmly in the past. But as any survivor will tell you, the anxiety of relapse never fully disappears. That anxiety brought me to a check-up in July 2020. It had been nearly seven years in remission, but I was noticing unusual bruising. My gut told me something wasn’t right.

Unfortunately, I was right. The leukemia had returned – this time, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when hospitals were already stretched thin. I was admitted immediately, and testing confirmed what I feared.

This time, my treatment plan included a Stem Cell Transplant. While that alone was daunting, the greater concern was the risk of developing Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD), a serious and sometimes fatal condition where the donor’s immune cells attack the recipient’s body. The potential for long-term organ damage – or even death – was terrifying. Despite having a good prognosis, the threat of GVHD loomed over every decision.

Then I was offered something that changed the trajectory of my life: the chance to take part in a clinical trial.

Turning Discovery into Hope

The BM12 CAST clinical trial was designed for patients receiving stem cells from matched donors, and I was lucky enough to have a matched donor in my twin sister, Natashia. The clinical trial was testing a new protocol aimed at significantly reducing the risk of developing GVHD. Importantly, participating in the trial wouldn’t compromise my treatment – it was built on top of existing best practices, but replacing one medication with another traditionally used in non-matched donors.

That trial gave me hope. It meant I wasn’t just fighting cancer again -I was part of something bigger. Something that might protect not only me, but future patients from one of the most devastating side effects of transplant recovery.

The results were groundbreaking. Professor David Curtis presented the findings at the European Hematology Association (EHA) Conference, revealing that the new protocol tripled the chances of patients being alive, healthy, and GVHD-free three years after transplant.

Now, five years later, I’m one of those patients. I’m now 27, still in remission, and living without any signs of GVHD. Thanks to the clinical trial – and the brilliant teams at Monash Hospital and The Alfred – I’ve been able to return to life without further complications.

“If you ever get the opportunity to be part of a clinical trial – or support one – know that you’re contributing to something that can change lives. I know, because it changed mine.”

Revolutionising Stem Cell Transplants for Blood Cancer

The BM12 CAST trial, led by Professor David Curtis, marks a transformative shift in the way stem cell transplants are managed worldwide. By introducing a simpler and more effective two-drug regimen post-stem cell transplant, BM12 CAST tripled the chances of patients being alive and healthy without suffering the severe complications of GVHD. The new treatment has already been adopted across Australia and New Zealand and will improve outcomes for those undergoing stem cell transplants globally.

The BM12 CAST trial is just one part of ALLG’s extensive clinical trial portfolio, which has been instrumental in shaping the landscape of blood cancer treatment. Since 1973, ALLG’s research has helped over 15,000 patients access new, cutting-edge therapies and driving forward our mission of Better treatments…Better lives.

Every approved treatment today started with a clinical trial. This Blood Cancer Awareness Month, Support Research, Save Lives – Be Part of the Breakthrough.