On 20th April 2011, 2 year old Corey was diagnosed with high risk neuroblastoma; an aggressive paediatric cancer that is harder to treat. Corey's mum Joanna had made a routine trip to the doctors as Corey was looking a little pale. Read about Corey’s experience below…
Corey had a large tumour in his abdomen and the cancer had spread to his bones and bone marrow. Corey has gone through some of the most gruelling treatment any child can take. He has received 8 doses of chemotherapy, a complex 6 hour operation to remove the tumour, stem cell rescue with high dose chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
A gorgeous, chubby and healthy boy; Corey was unrecognisable within a week of the gruelling treatment plan. His family were advised that Corey would need to respond to each stage of a 6 month treatment plan to be eligible to join a clinical trial for immunotherapy in the UK.
Given the difference in treatment for immunotherapy in America, his parents opted for Corey to receive three immunotherapy drugs, as opposed to the one or two available drugs as part of the randomised clinical trial in the UK. Thanks to the generosity and help of Corey’s local community and wider support, Corey will start his immunotherapy treatment at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia before the end of November. He has made remarkable progress through every round of the gruelling treatment and currently has no detectable disease.
Despite everything Corey has gone through and still has to face while he receives treatment in America, there is no guarantee that the cancer will not return. If the cancer were to come back, the UK doctors would not treat in a curative way. Corey's parents would have to immediately travel abroad for further treatment in order to give Corey the very best chance of survival.
Corey’s fundraising appeal with the Neuroblastoma Alliance and the Ashcroft family continues so that Corey can get the help he needs in the future should he need further treatment. If you can help, please make a donation to the Neuroblastoma Alliance UK, or organise a fundraising event to raise money for Corey. Every donation helps, no matter how small.
You can read more about Corey and his fight with neuroblastoma on Joanna’s blog. This blog is a mum’s view as her son fights for his life.
