Teen wants more support for brain tumour research

A mother whose son was left disabled after receiving cancer treatment has teamed up with a children's charity to campaign for more support into brain tumour research.

At the age of nine, Alfie, from Wolverhampton, began to suffer from a series of headaches, vomiting and withdrawing from his school friends.

His family were left "heartbroken and devastated" when an MRI scan in September 2019 showed he had medulloblastoma - a fast growing brain tumour mainly found in children.

"Nothing can prepare you for hearing the words 'your child has a brain tumour'," his mother Kerry said.

She added: "Watching Alfie go through surgery, radiotherapy and months of chemotherapy was heartbreaking, yet he still found the strength to bring joy to others."

Following surgery, the youngster developed posterior fossa syndrome, a condition that impacts movement and speech, leaving him having to learn to walk and talk again.

Now aged 16 he is cancer-free, but has been left with lifelong disabilities. His family has been working with Children with Cancer UK.

Alfie said: "There were some really hard days, but I focused on staying positive and helping others. If my experience can help improve treatment for children in the future, that means a lot."

Kerry added: "Alfie has overcome so many challenges. His resilience, kindness and determination inspire everyone around him. Watching him endure such aggressive treatment showed us how urgently children need better options. Research gives families hope."

The charity has funded two new brain tumour research projects.

They include analysing early MRI scans to identify which children may be at greater risk of long-term cognitive or functional difficulties after treatment and investigating why medulloblastoma becomes significantly more dangerous when it spreads.

Dr Laura Donovan said: "Paediatric brain tumours remain some of the most complex and challenging cancers we treat. Continued research is essential if we are to change outcomes for children."

Gavin Maggs, chief executive of Children with Cancer UK, added: "The projects we're funding are not just advancing scientific knowledge, they have the potential to fundamentally change how these cancers are diagnosed and treated, offering children safer and more effective options than ever before.

"With the public's support this March, we can accelerate breakthroughs so that more children survive and live well after treatment."

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