Read Ross' Story | Children with Cancer UK

A puffy area on his lower right eye

In early June 2009, we had noticed that Ross, our 18 month old son, had a puffy area on his lower right eye. We took him to our GP who said it was probably a blocked duct and would refer Ross to the eye pavilion for clarification.

Five weeks later, Ross’s eye started to get bigger. I called our GP surgery to confirm that Ross had been referred to the eye pavilion but the waiting list was 18 weeks. I decided to use my private medical insurance.

Referred to the private hospital

The doctor referred us to the private hospital and I called to make an appointment. When I phoned, I was told that there was only one eye specialist that would see children and he was on holiday. The first available appointment would be 12 August.

The following week Ross’s eye grew rapidly, so I took him back to the same GP I’d seen the week before – we got an emergency appointment that afternoon at the eye pavilion.

Diagnosis and infection

Once the eye specialist looked at Ross, I started to feel really worried. He consulted with the senior doctor who sent us straight away for an ultrasound scan. They booked us in for a biopsy on the Monday (this was a Friday). Once the biopsy was performed, we were told that Ross had cancer – that is one of the worst moments of our life.

He was diagnosed with orbital rhabdomyosarcoma, a type of soft tissue sarcoma. We had no idea what this was or what we were going to have to deal with. Ward 2 staff were fantastic in taking the time to explain and help us understand things.

Ross started the European rhabdomyosarcoma protocol – the current European-wide agreed guidelines for the treatment of rhabdomyosarcoma in children. After the first cycle of chemotherapy when Ross was neutropenic (he had a low white blood cell count), he contracted Staph Aureus Septicemia, a nasty blood infection.

This was the big low point for us as we did not know if he was going to pull through this. Thankfully, with the help of specialists and the right combination of meds, he started to respond.

Side effects

The cancer did not respond as well as expected after the three cycles of chemotherapy so a course of radiotherapy was on the cards. This didn’t sound too bad to us and the ward staff did not make a big deal out of it.

Then, we met with the radiotherapy oncologist and learned of the side effects from traditional radiotherapy. This included increasing the chance of developing a second cancer throughout his life.

As any radiation would be targeted under the eye, it is close to the pituitary gland (responsible for his growth) and the front of his brain (where his learning and development could be affected).

There was also the likelihood that he would need cranio-facial surgery, as his facial bones and their growth would be affected by the radiation. As Ross was only one year old, the more severe the side effects would be for him.

We went home and I researched and hunted the internet and came up with proton beam therapy. The downside – this was not available in the UK. I then started to contact the leading NHS specialists and approached our radiation doctor. She was happy to submit Ross for approval.

Treatment in the USA

After four weeks, Ross had NHS funding and approval (the first patient in Scotland) to travel to Jacksonville USA for five weeks of proton treatment. We left the UK on 18 December 2009. We had to organise everything ourselves so, as well as looking after a very sick child, we had travel arrangements, insurance etc to sort out.

First thing when we arrived in US was that Ross had to get titanium screws fitted into his skull to ensure the utmost accuracy during the treatment. Proton is accurate to 2mm as opposed to over 1cm with traditional radiation – a huge difference in a one-year-old child. It also does not have an exit point which meant no radiation to his brain.

Our time in the US was long but it was enlightening and interesting and of course plenty of great shopping! The positive outcome of our journey is that other families have been able to follow us over to US for treatment.

The fantastic word: remission

We had a scan in March 2010 which was inconclusive but after a further scan in June 2010, we heard the fantastic word REMISSION!!

Ross will have lifelong eye issues and will probably have some growth issues but hopefully nothing requiring surgery. There’s also the possibility of side effects related to the chemotherapy. But he’s still here, he survived and everyday I am so, so thankful for that and also everyday I pray that it doesn’t come back!

Ross has a big sister Katie who is four, Dad – Andy and Mum (me) Lesley. He also has a webpage that was created by a neighbour that also has more pictures and information on proton.

Update: July 2017

Ross enjoys his football and swimming. He currently swims with Tranent ASC and has been offered a place in the East Lothian development swimming team squad from August 2017. He embraces life and works hard at everything he does. He has long-term side effects, right eye damage and cognitive issue, so many things he does he has to work twice as hard to do things, but his determination and love of life always shines through.

He has worked exceptionally hard at his swimming and has been very successful in his age group over the last three months.

Lesley, mum (July 2017)

Latest Update: July 2019

Ross starts High School in August. I have my concerns due to cognitive issues, caused by radiation and chemo at such a young age, and worry that he’ll slip under the radar in the ‘big’ school. However, Ross doesn’t let anything him hold him back and he’s really looking forward to this next chapter.

Ross attends ophthalmology frequently, his eye seems to be stable just now so fingers crossed it stays that way! We have also been attending the dental hospital and now discovered the extent of dental damage, he’ll need many years of treatment and hopefully by his late teens he will have a dazzling smile!

Ross is still swimming and was invited to join East Lothian Swim team full time in April 2018. He’s had a great swim season with medals and finals in the East District Age group competition, he also finished 6th in the 50m fly in the Scottish Schools, fastest 11 year old in the 12 & under age group. We are super proud of his hard work, determination and focus given everything he’s been through to just be here.

Latest Update: May 2020

Ross had his 12th birthday this year, and it’s now been 10 years since he finished treatment. What a milestone this is!

Ross still attends lots of hospital appointments as he has long term side effects including renal and eye issues. Every year seems to bring up new issues, the latest being the lack of proper teeth due to chemotherapy treatment during the time of teeth formation, plus the effects of proton radiation which was given to his eye/head.

His experiences in life have shaped him into a boy who is focused, determined and full of life. He loves to swim, although the current situation has put his seven sessions per week on hold (three of which we are up at 5am), but he still managed to qualify for three Scottish National age group times. This was also cancelled but we will still celebrate this fantastic achievement.

In February, Ross was also awarded Top Boy at the East District age group swimming championships in his age category. This was four long weekends of swimming different strokes over different distances including a 400 Individual Medley.

Ross amazes us every day. The journey continues and the long term effects are plenty, but every day we still can’t believe how fortunate we are and how far we have come.

Boy in red top with medals in front of swimming pool

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