Jude Anderton was 11 years old when he was diagnosed with bone cancer. He went from a happy, highly active boy to being desperately ill in such a short space of time.
One day, he came home from school and said he hadn’t thrown the ball well that day and couldn’t understand why. He also said his arm was feeling achy.
A week later, the pain very quickly became excruciating with swelling in his arm. He stopped eating and couldn’t sleep so he was sent for an X-ray, CT scan, MRI, and biopsy. After those tests, it was confirmed, Jude had cancer that had already spread to his lungs.
The treatment was horrific. Jude quickly lost his hair. The inside of his mouth and tongue were covered with blisters and he had to have IV morphine for the pain. He couldn’t walk, couldn’t eat, and had to have an Ng tube to feed.
He had surgery on his arm which took seven hours and they removed the tumour and managed to save his arm. He really took to the physio and even started talking about the Paralympics.
But Jude’s arm pain returned and his arm and hand started to swell. He went for another scan and it was all back. The cancer had grown in his arm and his lungs. It was then that his family were told that they wouldn’t be able to cure Jude.
Jude was taken home with the support of the Macmillan team. The tumour on his arm was just huge. His mum, who is a nurse, said she’d never seen anything like it. It was as if it was taking over his body. He had two syringe drivers for pain relief and was on oxygen because his pain was so severe.
Jude died, aged 12, at home with his family on 28th February 2018.
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Nancy, 11, was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma when she was just 2 years old. She was treated with Proton Beam Therapy (PBT) in Germany but unfortunately relapsed less than a year later. The family were then sent to Germany for a second round of PBT. Although treatment helped to cure Nancy’s cancer, she has been left with lots of lasting effects which will require ongoing treatment throughout her life. Here Nancy and her mum, Antonia, share their story in the hope it will help others, raise awareness, and raise more money for children’s cancer research.
Why I am a Trustee of CCRF
I have spent my professional career representing individuals and families affected by the devastating asbestos-related cancer, mesothelioma, which has no cure and for which there are only a limited number of palliative treatments available on the NHS.
I joined CCRF because I wanted to bring my understanding of the need to raise awareness of less well known cancers and passion for the need to secure improved funding for research to children facing a cancer diagnosis.
My role on the Board
I am responsible for oversight of our collaboration agreements with other charities to co-fund research into cures and treatments for childhood cancers. I also manage our challenge events and help with community fundraising.
My Background
I am a Senior Associate at Irwin Mitchell LLP and specialise in Asbestos Disease Litigation, acting on behalf of victims of asbestos related diseases and their families. Over the years, I have undertaken a number of fundraising challenges to raise money for cancer research, including a 1000 mile cycle ride from Glasgow to Southampton.
