Mam Of Cancer Survivor Says Beating The Disease Is Just The Start
The mam of a County Durham teenager who battled a rare form of cancer's told TFM beating the disease is only the start.
The mam of a County Durham teenager who battled a rare form of cancer's told TFM beating the disease is only the start.
Nicola Maxwell's son Kieron beat Ewing's Sarcoma and despite losing a leg, is now a keen para-athlete.
It's as new figures from Cancer Research UK show the number of children dying from cancer has dropped by almost a quarter in the past decade.
The report hopes to highlight that progress is being made in the fight against childhood cancers, despite the fact five children die from the disease every week.
But Nicola says these figures shouldn't be taken at face value.
The Heighington mam says a lot of these studies don't always include more rare cancers, where the chance of survival is much worse.
She said: "The figures are subjective.
"For what my son has, the figures haven't changed in decades.
"Yes, children are surviving but if you remove children who're diagnosed with actue lymphathic leukemia, the survival rates drop considerably.
"Of these children surviving a lot of them have life-limiting problems and a lot of health issues."
Kieran meanwhile, is currently competing in Brazil for the Paralympic School Games.
Cancer Research UK is launching its annual Star Awards, supported by football hero Wayne Rooney.
Relatives and friends of young cancer patients or survivors who deserve special recognition are being urged to nominate children in the run up to Christmas HERE.