'We never expected this to happen to our little boy'
15.01.2024 - 07:11
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
The family of a little boy whose loss of balance turned out to be brain cancer is one of just 52 children living with the disease in the UK.
Jenson Lewis was displaying strange symptoms including a loss of coordination and balance when his parents took him to see a specialist last summer.
Tragically, tests revealed a tumour the size of a tomato in the five-year-old's brain – the discovery immediately kickstarting an intense rollercoaster of treatments including multiple surgeries.
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“It’s the news you never expect to hear,” his mum Sarah said. “It all happened very quickly once the tumour was discovered. The oncology and neurosurgical team at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital didn’t miss a beat - Jenson had two brain surgeries within a matter of days and the diagnosis confirmed within a week.
"They were amazing and made the most awful situation as bearable as possible. Jenson is strong willed, stubborn and strong enough to hopefully beat this awful disease and we can look forward to a future together as a family unit.”
The Preston-based family of five has been juggling constant to-ing and fro-ing to Royal Manchester Children's Hospital and The Christie in Manchester for his essential treatments, while trying to maintain schooling and other day-to-day requirements for Jenson’s siblings, Ruby, 16, and Finlay, 14.
This has been heightened while Jenson stays at The Christie to undergo a one-off 30-day treatment of Proton Beam Radiotherapy, which cannot be repeated in the case of a relapse. He will then undergo up to nine months chemotherapy in outpatient care, Lancs Live reports.
His parents, Sarah and Simon, are taking