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Connah Broom starts high school as cancer fight continues Connah Broom starts high school as cancer fight continues
(1 day later)
A boy with a rare form of childhood cancer who was not expected to live past the age of five is starting secondary school.A boy with a rare form of childhood cancer who was not expected to live past the age of five is starting secondary school.
Connah Broom, 11, from Flintshire, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in 2006 which spreads tumours around the body. Connah Broom, 11, from Flintshire, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in 2006 and had 11 tumours.
He had 11 tumours, and chemotherapy had little effect but he received treatment in Mexico. Despite chemotherapy failing for Connah, of Gronant near Prestatyn, and other traditional treatments ruled out, 10 of his tumours have shrunk.
Connah, who starts school in Prestatyn, is publishing a book next month to help other children with cancer. He has started school in Prestatyn, and plans to publish a book next month.
Neuroblastoma affects about 100 children in the UK every year and generally has a poor prognosis.Neuroblastoma affects about 100 children in the UK every year and generally has a poor prognosis.
Chemotherapy failed for Connah, of Gronant near Prestatyn, and other traditional treatments were ruled out. When conventional treatment was ruled out for Connah his family took him to Mexico for a non-proven alternative treatment.
But his family believe that an alternative treatment they organised themselves, called photodynamic therapy (PDT), is responsible for destroying 10 of Connah's 11 tumours. His family believe that the alternative treatment they organised themselves, called photodynamic therapy (PDT), was responsible for destroying 10 of Connah's 11 tumours.
His grandmother Debbie Broom spends around two hours a night taking Connah through his treatment routine, which involves medication, infrared and ultrasound, which is not available on the NHS for him. However, Connah's GP Dr Eamonn Jessup, from Prestatyn Central Surgery, has previously said he is unsure whether the PDT treatment has had an effect on Connah's tumours.
He also eats an exclusively organic diet with food supplements. Concerns have also been expressed about clinics overseas offering cancer treatment.
Last year, the Norfolk charity Families Against Neuroblastoma said the parents of children with this rare cancer sometimes went to unlicensed clinics in Mexico.
It called for the UK government to issue guidelines on clinics overseas offering cancer treatment.
A leading paediatric cancer specialist in Germany, Professor Rupert Handgretinger, said last year he was deeply concerned about the treatments offered in Mexico.
Emotional journey
However Connah's grandmother Debbie Broom believes the treatment he had in 2011 has helped him.
He still has a primary tumour in his abdomen but it does not stop him taking part in activities such as street dance and football.He still has a primary tumour in his abdomen but it does not stop him taking part in activities such as street dance and football.
Mrs Broom said: "We went in February for scans and they showed again just the one tumour - the primary. It had reduced slightly, not as quick as we were hoping for unfortunately, but we're getting there.Mrs Broom said: "We went in February for scans and they showed again just the one tumour - the primary. It had reduced slightly, not as quick as we were hoping for unfortunately, but we're getting there.
"Dr Mark Gaze at UCL (University College London Hospitals) has now said don't come twice a year, we'll do scans once a year so it's going to be every February unless we have a problem."Dr Mark Gaze at UCL (University College London Hospitals) has now said don't come twice a year, we'll do scans once a year so it's going to be every February unless we have a problem.
Organic meals
"We didn't even think we were going to get Connah back to school."
Mrs Broom said it had been an emotional journey but Connah's progress over seven years had been remarkable.Mrs Broom said it had been an emotional journey but Connah's progress over seven years had been remarkable.
"We've gone back to school full-time," she said. "We've finished infants, it was such a thing to get into juniors, and we've done the juniors and now we're doing the high school."We've gone back to school full-time," she said. "We've finished infants, it was such a thing to get into juniors, and we've done the juniors and now we're doing the high school.
"People say 'we've done it', Jim and I and Connah's dad Chris. It's not us, it's Connah that's done it because Connah has carried on with the organic meals, not being able to eat chocolate and sweets and have all the things (other children have)." "People say 'we've done it', Jim and I and Connah's dad Chris. It's not us, it's Connah that's done it."
Connah said he would miss the teachers and pupils at his old primary school but he was "moving on".Connah said he would miss the teachers and pupils at his old primary school but he was "moving on".
"I'm feeling very good actually. I can't wait to go to high school," Connah added."I'm feeling very good actually. I can't wait to go to high school," Connah added.
His book, the Amazing Cancer Kid, is published on 10 October which he hopes will inspire others in a similar situation.His book, the Amazing Cancer Kid, is published on 10 October which he hopes will inspire others in a similar situation.
In 2011, Connah was said to be defying medical experts after embarking on PDT.
He underwent an intensive two-week course of therapy in Mexico because it was not available to him in the UK.