After further tests, Charlie was diagnosed with Stage 4, high risk neuroblastoma – the cancer had already spread to his bones. In order to treat the aggressive cancer, Charlie underwent months of intensive chemotherapy, major surgery to remove his primary tumour, a five week long stem cell transplant, and another round of radiotherapy plus immunotherapy.
Unfortunately, however, even after such relentless treatment there is still a 50% chance of the cancer coming back. To help reduce this statistic, his parents Mark and Jo raised funds so that he could take part in a vaccine trial in New York which he recently completed. We are delighted to report that Charlie’s recent scans confirm he is in remission.
Although unsure of what the future may hold for little Charlie, the Shirran family are taking each day as it comes and breathing in, soaking up and enjoying every moment that they have together.
Charlie’s mum Jo said: “life is so precious and it’s a shame it takes something so shocking and unfair for us to realise how unbelievably lucky we are”.