Teenage “cancer warrior” Kira Noble is in remission after months of chemo-immunotherapy, her mother has announced.
The 19-year-old started the ground-breaking treatment for neuroblastoma in January this year, alongside physical therapy.
The Harry Styles super fan was first diagnosed with the disease at 11, and since then has experienced eight relapses.
However her mother, Aud, explained that being in remission does not mean Kira is cured, rather that no active disease has been detected in her body following MRI and PET scans.
When a neuroblastoma patient has relapsed multiple times like Kira, it can be extremely difficult for them to go into remission, making this a huge milestone for the Edinburgh teenager.
She rejected chemotherapy in favour of trial drug Lorlatinib in 2019.
Unlike chemotherapy, the ALK-inhibitor only attacks cancerous cells, minimising the side-effects and allowing Kira to live a fairly regular teenage life.
Kira told STV News: “Next steps for me are getting back to work. I work in retail in St James Quarter and I can’t wait to join my team who are just the best bunch of people.
“I also want to concentrate on getting driving lessons and getting through my Theory Exam. Everything was put on hold during lockdown and then I had to go back into cancer treatment.
“I also had a University placement to study Paediatric Nursing on the horizon, but had to pend that whilst I underwent my chemoimmunotherapy treatment. I will reapply when the time is right and when my health is back on par.”
Her mum, Aud, told STV News: “We are so happy that Kira’s latest scans, carried out on July 18, showed no evidence of active disease .
“Relapsed neuroblastoma however is notorious for continuing to grow / metastasise even when treatment is being given.
“It’s an absolute renegade of a disease and never plays fair with the children and young people it invades.
Kira will be scanned again in 3 months time to monitor what’s happening within her body.
“We can’t say a big enough thank you to all the amazing medical teams within RHCYP Edinburgh for the incredible care they give to children and young people.”
In a social media post, Aud added: “We are so grateful that the effect of chemo-immunotherapy eradicated the cancer but we remain mindful of how pernicious this deceitful disease is.
“Kira will remain on her ALK inhibitor, Lorlatinib, in the hope that it maintains her disease for a longer period of time.
“Hoping, praying and manifesting that this works.”
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