Alex was only three when he was diagnosed with an Anaplastic ependymoma brain tumour and we were told that the ideal treatment for this tumour was Surgery followed by Radiotherapy but because of his age Radiotherapy was not an option as it would cause brain damage in a child under five.
The way forward was that he should have Surgery followed by Chemotherapy that would hopefully cure him but at least delay the need for Radiotherapy until he was old enough to receive it .
Alex underwent fourteen months of chemotherapy and throughout all this his MRI scans were clear but then two months after finishing Chemotherapy we found that the tumour had returned.
We were now in a situation that meant that the only treatment available in the UK was radiotherapy but this would cause brain damage as he was still so young.
After much investigation we took the option of Proton therapy that was available in the US which would not cause the brain damage that Radiotherapy would if we had the treatment in the UK.
Below are news reports that show our appeal and how Alex got on in Jacksonville.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/leicestershire/7623814.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/leicestershire/7626336.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/leicestershire/7642488.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/leicestershire/7647990.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/leicestershire/7682243.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/leicestershire/7655528.stm
Alex returmed from the US 13th Dec 2008 after completing treatment on 9th Dec 2008.
Below are news reports that show how the treatment had no effect on him other than a small amount of hair loss.
http://news.bbc.co.uk:80/1/hi/england/7784003.stm 15th Dec
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7795909.stm 19th Dec
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7906084.stm 23rd Feb
