Children can have cancer, too

The over-arching aim of cancer therapy in children is not only to ensure cure, but also to allow them to have normal growth and development to realise their full potential as productive, healthy adults. Photo: 123.rf

The parents I spoke to simply stared back at me. There were tears in their eyes. I had just informed them that their little boy had cancer.

For them, their precious four-year-old son Jimi (not his real name) was lively and healthy, with eyes full of wonder and a brain full of mischief. He had contracted fever the week before and their GP wasn’t overly concerned. He did notice that the boy was a bit pale and arranged a “simple” blood test. This was when their whole world changed.