Caroline conquers cancer
SCHOOLGIRL BEATS RARE ILLNESS – AND WANTS TO RUN TO HELP MORE
her head, which, due to the connection to nerves, wasn’t possible to remove. “Chemotherapy and radiotherapy were our only option, so just days later after a barrage of tests and scans she began her first round of treatment.”
Fewer than 60 children a year are diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma.
NHS doctors sent the youngster to the US to undergo targeted proton beam therapy to shrink the tumour while protecting the surrounding area.
The family, who live near Alnwick, are starting to recover from their ordeal, after Caroline marked a year in remission last October, but the trauma of treatment has taken its toll. Lucy said: “It’s quite ridiculous when you think about what we went through and where we are now – you wouldn’t know she had had cancer, you would look at her now and you wouldn’t have a clue. “Caroline is so in the moment, but it has a profound effect on you as parents, what goes through your head is just ‘why did she have to go through this?’ It’s horrendous.
“It’s an unnameable emotion, like a type of grief. You’re still terrified, but I look at Caroline and it’s as if it’s never happened, her recovery has been remarkable.”
Caroline and her family, along with other runners from Embleton Vincent Edwards Church of England Primary School, will now take part in the NECCR run to raise money for research into childhood cancers.
The run, which takes place on May 19 at Newcastle Racecourse, will help raise money for the research charity which has helped contribute to the 80% survival rate for childhood cancers.
Lucy said: “The level of treatment and care she had at the RVI was outstanding and I’m certain that’s partly because of all the research that goes on there, everyone who works there is so interested and so focused on children’s care.
“Caroline got through it the best that she could, but if it could be easier for children in future she definitely wants to be a part of making that happen.”
Chris Peacock, chairman of the NECCR, said: “We are very proud of the part we have played over the last 40 years in developing new treatments for childhood cancer and helping to improve survival rates.
“We still have a long way to go to help improve those treatments, making them more effective and less aggressive to reduce some of the many traumatic side effects.
“The run is a fantastic way for people to get involved, make a difference and help more children live healthy lives in future.”