A TODDLER who had a 5cm tumour on his prostate which stopped him urinating has made a miraculous recovery thanks to an international drugs trial.
Ollie Lee's future appeared uncertain just over a year ago, but the drug Avastin has seen him overcome the disease.
His parents were initially told by medics their little boy had constipation. But first-time mum Sophie Maloney, of Bingham, told doctors at the Queen's Medical Centre she was sure it was something more sinister.
An MRI scan revealed she was right. Little Ollie, three, didn't just have a large tumour on his prostate, but also several others – one on his rib another on his spine and one on his left thigh.
Sophie, 38, said: "Our whole world fell apart, I can still remember the consultant telling us the news. It was awful."
The tumours were diagnosed as rhabdomyosarcoma, a type of soft tissue sarcoma – a cancer that starts in muscles.
Ollie received his diagnosis in November 2011. On average there are only around 60 cases of this type of tumour in the UK each year.
From that moment, mum Sophie and dad Simon Lee braced themselves for a traumatic year.
Ollie became a familiar figure at Nottingham Children's Hospital's E38 ward, and endured more than 30 general anaesthetics. But just when Sophie and Simon thought their luck was out, Ollie was accepted for international research into Avastin.
"We knew there was not a lot known about this drug, but we thought it was worth a shot," said Sophie, of Cherwell Gardens.
Ollie went through nine cycles of intensive chemotherapy and the new cancer drug eradicated most the tumours in his body and reduced the one on his prostate down to 1cm.
Further focused radiotherapy saw that cancer disappear and on January 24 Ollie was given the all-clear.
"It's nothing short of a miracle," said Sophie.
His consultant Professor David Walker said: "The results of the drug are yet to be collated, but Oliver was able to reap the benefits of being part of that research.
"The Government invested heavily into research so that cancer sufferers have the best opportunity to have the best cancer drugs available."
Cancer Research UK have awarded Ollie with a Little Star award. The awards acknowledge the unique challenges faced by youngsters who encounter cancer and raise vital funds for research into the disease.
