GREATEST CHRISTMAS GIFT OF ALL
CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH FOR BOY STRUCK DOWN WITH CANCER JUST YEARS AFTER MUM BEAT IT
THE family of a young boy cruelly struck down with cancer just years after his mum beat the disease are celebrating the best Christmas gift ever - a clean bill of health.
Jake Best was only five years old when he was diagnosed with Burkitt’s Lymphoma, a form of cancer that affects the lymphatic system.
The brave little boy had to endure six months of gruelling chemotherapy treatment and a painful lumbar puncture test each week, with his parents Steve and Sarah by his side.
Sarah knew better than most the struggle Jake was going through.
She herself had been diagnosed with tongue cancer while pregnant with him even having to have a lead shield specially made for her bump while she underwent radiotherapy and chemotherapy when an operation to remove the cancer failed.
“It was tough, but I knew what Jake was going through so that helped us get through it together,” Sarah said.
“We still live in fear that the cancer might come back but for now, we just want to concentrate on helping raise awareness of cancer and the importance of research.”
The family, who live in Beauchamp Road in Warwick, are now determined to help others by backing Cancer Research UK’s ‘Right Now’ campaign.
Sarah said finding out she had cancer aged 29 just before Christmas 2010 was “a complete shock”.
She had only visited her doctor over what she believed was a stubborn mouth ulcer.
But after being given the devastating news, her first thoughts turned quickly to her unborn child - especially after surgery to remove the cancer failed and further tests showed it had spread to lymph nodes in her neck.
“My first worry was that I would have to stop the pregnancy, but they were hoping surgery on its own would be enough to treat it,” she added.
“I was devastated [when the surgery didn’t work] because it meant I had to have both chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
“I just wanted to get it over and done with and for my son to be born healthy.”
Jake arrived five weeks early weighing just 4lb 10oz on the last day of Sarah’s cancer treatment in April 2011, and she thought the long battle was finally over.
“Holding Jake for the first time was an amazing feeling,” she said.
“Just knowing he was ok was all that mattered.”
But in the cruelest twist of fate, Jake was struck down by the disease five years later just as he was starting school.
“Jake wasn’t eating and his stomach had started to swell but it was almost exactly five years after my cancer so I thought we couldn’t possibly be that unlucky,” Sarah added.
“He was so scared and traumatised by the treatment that he had to be sedated for two days.
“It was heartbreaking, but the hospital staff were amazing.
“I don’t know how Steve has coped but he’s been our rock.
“It’s been the worst and most testing time of our life and marriage but the whole experience has made us stronger as a couple because we’ve had to lean on each other.”
Cancer Research UK was a key player in the development of radiotherapy, which now benefits more than 130,000 patients every year in the UK.
“It’s thanks to research and advancements in treatment that my wife and son survived,” said Steve, a CCTV service engineer.
“Doctors have said it’s unlikely the two cancers are related, so we’ve just been incredibly unlucky.
“Our experience means we understand all too clearly why Cancer Research UK’s work is so important, so now we want to do everything we can to highlight the power of research in beating the disease.
“The ‘Right Now’ campaign captures the experience of so many families like mine.
“Cancer affects us all - not just the person diagnosed, but also their loved ones, so I hope people are motivated to show their support and help even more people survive.”
Paula Young Cancer Research UK spokesperson for Warwickshire, said: “We’re so grateful to Steve and Sarah for sharing their story.
“Our ‘Right Now’ campaign aims to show both the realities of the disease and the positive impact research and improved treatments can have on a cancer patient’s journey.
“Every hour, around four people are diagnosed with cancer in the West Midlands region. But thanks to research, more people are surviving the disease than ever before.
“Survival has doubled in the last 40 years in the UK and Cancer Research UK’s work has been at the heart of that progress.
“Our campaign shows that we are working to beat cancer right now. But we can’t do it alone. With the help of our supporters, Cancer Research UK scientists can find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat the disease.
“There are so many ways to show your support - from joining a local Race for Life event, to volunteering in our shops or simply wearing a Unity Band for World Cancer Day on 4 February.
“We’re calling on people to take action right now and make a real difference in the fight against the disease.”
To help support life-saving research, visit www.cruk.org