Earby eight-year-old in fight against leukaemia (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Earby eight-year-old in fight against leukaemia

9:00pm Tuesday 13th November 2012 in News By Kate Jackson, Reporter

AN eight-year-old boy is facing three years of gruelling treatment as he battles an aggressive form of cancer.

Ethan Wilson, of Colne Road, Earby, was recently diagnosed with acute lympho-blastic leukaemia, a fast-growing cancer of the blood, after the glands in his neck enlarged and his foot had swollen.

The Springfield Primary School pupil started a course of chemotherapy within days of being diagnosed in October, and faces a programme of treatment which could last three years.

Doctors are still unclear at what stage the disease is, but hope to know by the end of November.

Ethan’s mum, Lisa, said: “His glands had been up since March. We took him to the family doctor and hospital in Burnley, but there didn’t seem to be anything to worry about.

“When his foot became swollen we were told to take him to Airedale and, fortunately, were seen by a doctor who had been working on the children’s cancer unit in Leeds and he realised it could be more serious.

“Ethan was soon at the Leeds unit and they confirmed it was leukaemia.

“It was a real shock. I just cried and cried. We have been so worried.

“I’ve now got my head around it and think I just need to concentrate on helping him fighting it.

“The staff and all our family and friends have been marvellous. The support we have been given is amazing.”

His dad, Edward, is a bus driver with Skipton-based Pennine Motors who have also supported the family.

Ethan has a twin sister, Kaili, and older brother Bailey, 12, who is a pupil at West Craven High School in Barn-oldswick.

Lisa added: “Everybody in the community, and at the schools, has given us fantastic support and we can't thank them enough.”

As a ‘thank you’ to Yorkshire-based children’s cancer support group Candlelighters, Lisa is to have her head shaved to raise money for the charity at Earby Cricket Club on Saturday, Novem-ber 17, at 1.30pm.

“The Candlelighters charity do fant-astic work at the hospital and have been very good to us. Helping to raise money is the least I can do,” she said.