Blyth teenager Ryan Office has survived brain surgery not once but twice - and now, as he gets back to normal life following a heartbreaking cancer relapse, he's received a special award for bravery.
Ryan, 14, was first diagnosed with a brain tumour aged 11 at the beginning of 2020. After surgery and then three months in the US - during the Covid-19 lockdown - for specialist proton beam therapy, in February 2021 the worst happened and his cancer returned.
Now, after 12 months more treatment and a second recovery, he is back to health - though will live with epilepsy for the rest of his life. To mark his bravery through two years of treatment, he has been awarded a Cancer Research UK Children & Young People Star Award.
The award scheme is run by the charity in partnership with the retailer TK Maxx. Anyone can nominate a young person who's undergoing or has had cancer treatment in the past five years for an award using the Cancer Research UK website.
Fortunately for Ryan, after a second surgery and a year of further treatment, he is now on the mend, though still faces what he and mum Elaine call "scanxiety" every three months. Discussing the cancer's return, Elaine said: "It was really bad news. He was really upset – what was the point of going through all that, then he had to have another operation to remove the tumour? The second time round they took more healthy brain tissue around it, to capture any remaining cells."
Now, ahead of each scan, it returns. "We get ‘scanxiety’. It’s a real thing among the cancer fraternity," she said. "It makes you feel like a cat on a hot tin roof. Once you’ve had one scan and it’s clear, you know you have three months of peace of mind, until a week or couple of weeks before the next scan. You think the worst because you’re not sure what’s going to happen."
However, Ryan is back to enjoying hobbies like gaming, roller skating and even going on rollercoasters. Elaine said the awards were lovely for families like hers.
She added: "Parents of children with cancer feel like they’re a bit out on a limb. That’s why these awards, the Stars, are so lovely. You know what – having a little gift like that come through the post with an award, makes a massive difference. Thank you for the award. It brings a bit of a smile and sometimes, happy tears.”
Back in early 2020, the mum - who also has Ryan's elder brother Lewis - spotted that Ryan's eye had "turned in" and "it looked like he was going to go cockeyed". Devastatingly, this was the first sign that he had an anaplastic pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (APXA) brain tumour.
Elaine's colleagues - she is a paramedic at North East Ambulance Service - helped raise more than £16,000 for the family to help them through Ryan's treatment. She is now urging families to check their eyes regularly so worrying changes are spotted.
Cancer Research UK's North East rep Michaela Robinson-Tate said: "Ryan is a real star who has been through so much at such a young age. It has been an absolute privilege to be able to celebrate his courage with a Star Award." e.”
As well as a star shaped trophy, Ryan received a £50 TK Maxx gift card, t-shirt and a certificate signed by celebrity chef Jean-Christophe Novelli, TV personality Dr Ranj and children’s favourite Mister Maker.. His brother, Lewis, 15, received a certificate too.
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