Waterlooville mum's world turned upside down after being told 18-month-old son had rare cancer

Keira Clayton from Waterlooville was left devastated when doctors diagnosed her 18-month-old son Oscar with neuroblastoma.

The nurse had noticed a change in him after he developed a strange rash and began stumbling around.

Keira said: ‘We first noticed something was wrong when Oscar started shaking, like something you’d see when people have Parkinson’s disease.

‘One night, we put him to bed and his eyes started to jerk.’

The family were told by their GP to take Oscar to hospital for tests.

Keira, 31, who is a mum of two, said: ‘We were in hospital with Oscar for four nights as he needed intravenous medication in case it was an infection.

‘The day after we went home, we were called to go back to hospital. The VMA levels (vanillylmandelic acid) in Oscar’s urine were abnormally high.

‘As a nurse, I knew it was more serious and that high VMA levels indicate that he may have a tumour.’

That day Keira's fears were confirmed.

‘I heard the word cancer and I thought my son was going to die,’ she added.

After weeks of more tests and Oscar underwent a major six hour surgery to remove a five centimetre tumour from his kidney. Following

The surgery was successful and after a year of steroids, Oscar has now fully recovered.

Keira said: ‘Oscar is like a different child now. He’s just so much happier. He’s tough, he’s strong willed and stronger for all he’s experienced.'

The family are supporting charity Neuroblastoma UK which is challenging people to join The Great Give It Up and give something up, like their daily coffee, and donate the funds to neuroblastoma research.

Comedian Alan Carr, who is a celebrity patron the charity, has given up chocolate.

He said: ‘Neuroblastoma is a horrible cancer which mostly affects children. I love a cheeky bit of chocolate and it’ll be a huge challenge for me to give it up but it’s nowhere near as big a challenge as what these children go through.

‘Children with neuroblastoma need treatment which can make them so sick that they have to give up their favourite food too but they don’t have a choice. Please join me and make your Great Give It Up pledge today to help fund vital research into neuroblastoma.’

Keira added: ‘As a family, we do what can to raise awareness, raise money and help other families like ours. We’ve organised big fundraising day, a cake sale and taken part in running events. I wouldn't wish the pain we went through on my worst enemy.’

To find out more visit neuroblastoma.org.uk/