Mum: '˜We'll never take anything for granted - we still have our boy'

Receiving the devastating news that your child has cancer is difficult news for any parent to hear.

It’s a battle Todmorden mum Charlotte Crowther, 49, had to face when her son Oscar was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer three years ago.

Her family’s journey began just before Christmas 2013, when Oscar, now 15, discovered a lump on the side of his neck. It was checked out and a referral to see a paediatrician in the New Year was sent.

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Charlotte said: “We enjoyed Christmas, even though Oscar did seem a little quieter he still managed to take part in his passion - stunt scootering.

“On the day he was due back in school he was tearful, lethargic and just not himself.”

A whirlwind of doctors appointments, blood tests, x-rays and neck scans followed and the family were told a biopsy would need to be taken on the lump.

“All of our hopes were pinned on it being a nasty infection,” Charlotte said.

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But to their devastation, an MRI scan confirmed the family’s worst fears.

“We then met the doctor, who broke the news that our most amazing, full-of-life boy had a rare form of cancer called Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma. We were numb, but we heard every word we were told.”

Oscar, a pupil at Todmorden High School, faced a tough course of treatment ahead of him, including radiotherapy sessions, chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

At one point, Charlotte shaved Oscar’s head because he didn’t want to watch it fall out - a side affect of the intense cancer treatment.

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But to the family’s relief, Oscar’s cancer hadn’t spread to his bones. Three years on and Oscar is now nearly two years out of treatment and his last scan was a good result.

He is now growing his hair to donate to the Little Princess Trust, a charity which makes real-hair wigs for children undergoing cancer treatment. Money donated will also go to Candelighters, a Leeds-based children’s cancer charity.

The future looks bright for the youngster. His big passion is stunt scootering and he has just been sponsored by prestigious scooter firm MGP.

Charlotte said: “Oscar’s treatment was incredible and we will always be grateful to all the people involved on his journey. Life is different and we will never take anything for granted - we still have our boy.”

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Charlotte-Crowther.