Your health: Kicking cancer’s butt!
Jane Ashcroft, 42, from St Helens, didn't know anything was wrong with her karate-mad lad
It began with a routine eye test in April 2016, when my boys Niall and Ciaron, were then 10 and 8. I assumed it’d be straightforward, but the optician looked serious. ‘There’s some scarring at the back of Niall’s right eye,’ he said.
I was worried. What did that mean? Niall seemed so healthy – played footy with his little brother, loved karate.
We had tests at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and, last year, were referred to St Paul’s Eye Hospital, where Niall’s consultant ordered an ultrasound and biopsy.
But in August, we had
it was tough, but we pulled together as a family
horrific news…
‘We’ve found a tumour on
Niall’s eye,’ the consultant said.
He had choroidal melanoma.
Me and my husband Tim, 44, were shattered – we’d never expected cancer.
‘Why our little boy?’ I sobbed. The tumour was so close to his optic nerve, surgery was too risky. The only other option was cutting-edge, proton-beam therapy.
A form of radiotherapy, this involves firing a beam of radiation directly at the tumour to kill cancerous cells.
It might result in Niall’s vision deteriorating – but the alternative was losing his eye… ‘We have to try,’ I said.
‘It’s his best shot,’ agreed Tim.
We were completely honest with Niall about his condition, and Ciaron, too.
‘You can ask us anything you want,’ I said. ‘Can it kill me?’ Niall asked. Heartbreaking.
It was a tough time. Ciaron was so worried about Niall, but we pulled together as a family.
The proton beam had a 95 per cent success rate, and the professor at St Paul’s was so supportive, really reassuring Niall he was going to be OK. ‘We’ll get it,’ he smiled, as they fist bumped.
Niall’s treatment began on 9 October and, so far, his consultant is happy with the results. Doctors are still monitoring his progress before giving an all-clear, though.
He has checks at St Paul’s every three months, and will need MRI scans every six months for the next 15 years, to make sure the cancer doesn’t spread to his liver.
The operation has affected the vision in Niall’s right eye.
Now it’s very important to protect the sight in his left eye, so the doctors advised he wears protective goggles for sports.
But Niall’s bounced back so well.
Now 12, he’s at school again, as well as back to karate, where he has a black belt!
And he knows exactly what he wants to be when he grows up. ‘A radiographer!’ he grins. And I believe him – at school, his Science grades have become above average.
Whenever we return to the hospital, he cheekily asks the staff when he can come in for work experience!
Niall’s been so brave throughout his whole ordeal, and we couldn’t be more proud of him.