The family of a six-year-old boy are heartbroken after a suspected cancerous lump was found on his liver.
Jacob Jones from Ebbw Vale has been in and out of hospital since shortly before his second birthday, when he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called neuroblastoma. Doctors rated his chance of survival at just 34 per cent.
His parents Alwyn and Emma raised thousands of pounds for experimental treatment. Making it through surgery and intensive chemotherapy, Jacob was found to be cancer-free in 2019.
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But the family have launched a new fundraiser after a lesion was found on the Willowtown Primary pupil's liver. Doctors believe it is "highly likely" his cancer has returned.
Alwyn, a 37-year-old builder, said: "The doctors think he's relapsed but they haven't done a biopsy to 100 per cent confirm it. The lump is in such an awkward place they would have to do a major operation and break his ribcage just to do the biopsy.
"We're in a Catch 22 at the moment. In the next month there's going to be a meeting of top neuroblastoma doctors to see the best way around it.
"Jacob doesn't want be in hospital. His chemo wiped out his immune system and he picks up bugs all the time. He can't walk very far because his legs ache.
"He's always in good spirits, bless him. He's always got a cheeky smile on his face but he's living in limbo at the moment. All he's known is hospital and being ill and having bloods done. The older he gets the harder it is because he understands more."
Because neuroblastoma is a cancer which is highly likely to return, Alwyn and Emma were anxious for their son even when he had no detectable signs of cancer.
"This is why it's heartbreaking," said Alwyn. "We are worrying and worrying all the time. We can't stop thinking about it. You get that gut feeling when you know something is wrong."
While Jacob was cancer-free he received costly DFMO treatment in North Carolina and Michigan, which is not available on the NHS. It is an experimental treatment aimed at preventing neuroblastoma from returning.
Jacob's Fight, a campaign supporting the family, is hoping to raise £20,000. This would help Alwyn and Emma cover the £6,000 in remaining DFMO costs and pay for full-body scans not offered on the NHS. It was one of these scans which helped identify the lump on Jacob's liver, said Alwyn.
Doctors have informed the family they are hopeful Jacob can recover again. If the lesion is cancerous he is likely to need more chemotherapy. Alwyn said experts have told the family that Jacob is in a good position to make it through the punishing treatment because it has been around three years since his last course.
You can donate to Jacob's Fight via the campaign's Facebook page www.facebook.com/jacobwarrior/
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