A 16-YEAR-OLD girl who had emergency surgery for a brain tumour faces 15 months of intensive chemotherapy, her family has said.

Nichole Bain underwent a six-hour operation at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital last Friday.

The operation was to remove a blockage in the fourth ventricle of the brain near the brain stem which was stopping the flow of cerebrospinal fluid, which protects the brain.

Her family had hoped that Nichole, who recently finished her GCSEs at Witton Park High School, Blackburn, would then only require a short burst of radiotherapy.

But consultants have now told dad Anthony, 42, and mum Julie, 38, that it was not the type of tumour first thought.

As a result Nichole, from the Canterbury Street area of Blackburn, will be making regular weekly journeys to Manchester for treatment.

Anthony said: “It is not the news we had hoped for and it came as a devastating blow.

"We have been told it is a very aggressive type of cancer. This is going to be really intense, tough and painful treatment for Nichole. It is going to be a lengthy and drawn-out process.

“The family would really like to thank everyone for the fantastic support they have shown us.”

Nichole had complained of persistent headaches and underwent an MRI scan last week because of fears an upcoming holiday flight could make them worse.

The scan revealed the tumour and on Sunday her condition deteriorated when she suffered a seizure.

Nichole has dreams of a career as a solicitor and is set to study at Blackburn College this autumn.

* Mr Bain said “insult had been added to injury” when his home and second-hand business in Darwen Street were raided by police on Tuesday while he and his family were in hospital.

The raids took place as part of a crackdown on burglaries but police said the following day that no stolen property was recovered at either address.