THE parents of cancer-stricken four-year-old Sam Shaw have until October 31 to get him to the US for essential immunotherapy treatment.

The Hoddlesden youngster, who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in January, recently had a successful operation to remove the initial tumour.

He had previously undergone a gruelling course of chemotherapy that killed off cancer cells that had spread throughout his body.

He has spent this week receiving high doses of chemotherapy, having had his bone marrow stem cells harvested to be replaced next week.

Mum Christine, who lives with Sam and husband Carl in Glencoe Avenue, said it would be 60 days from receiving his stem cells when Sam could begin three weeks of radiotherapy, the final stage of his treatment before heading to the US.

She said: “He has had 16 sessions of chemotherapy since Tuesday, which finished yesterday.

“He will get a further really high dose on Monday before having his stem cells replaced on Wednesday.

“After his radiotherapy treatment, we need to get him to Philadelphia as soon as possible.

“We have 100 days from Tuesday last week, otherwise he misses the opportunity to have the treatment that could save his life.

“So we need to be in Philadelphia the week before that really, to give them a chance to get everything prepared.”

Mrs Shaw, who is staying with her son full-time while he is in the hospital, said Sam had been given freedom to roam at Manchester Children’s Hospital while his blood levels were still high enough.

She said: “The doctors have said that as soon as they start to lower, he will go into isolation for three or four weeks.

“But at the moment he can play and stretch his legs.”

Having received the diagnosis in January, Mr and Mrs Shaw launched a fundraising appeal to raise the £250,000 needed for the treatment, which is not available on the NHS.

Yesterday, Mrs Shaw said they had managed to raise about £220,000 so far.

She said: “We can’t thank people enough for getting us this far and we are so close, now.

“It is a big relief that we are speeding ahead with it. It all seems to be building pace now.”

To donate to the Sam Shaw Appeal, visit www.justgiving.com/samshawappeal