A schoolgirl has been diagnosed with cancer again - nine years after beating the devastating disease.
Jahzara Edmondson survived two brain operations aged six after a tumour the size of a tennis ball was discovered. The 'absolute warrior' received ground-breaking Proton Beam Therapy in the US and has been living cancer-free since September 2013.
However, Jahzara's family have been left devastated after a metastatic tumour was found on her lower spinal cord.
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Now the 15-year-old, from Whalley Range, needs to raise £100,000 for Proton Therapy.
Mum Gill told the Manchester Evening News: "I've been devastated since Jahzara's doctor told us. It's twice we've had to face this terrible news, no family should have to face this.
"It's not what anyone wants to hear. We are trying to keep our heads up and my daughter continues to stay strong and positive against all this turmoil."
The JustGiving page has been set up to fund a second course of Proton Therapy at the West German Proton Therapy Centre (WPE) to treat and permanently cure the return of Jahzara's cancer.
In mid-December she had surgery, this time on her spine to remove the tumour. Devastatingly, however, this is not the end of Jahzara's long battle.
She now needs a further course of radiotherapy. But the brave teen told her mum, Gill Edmondson, shortly after being informed of the horrible side effects involved: 'It's okay mum - I will go through it again and beat it again'.
Gill said: "The best treatment for Jahzara is a second course of Proton Therapy. It potentially reduces the risk of secondary cancers and improves patients' quality of life due to fewer long-term side effects from minimal radiation exposure to healthy issues compared to other cancer treatments."
The NHS funds proton beam therapy routinely where it has been identified as the optimal treatment. In addition, the NHS supports a portfolio of clinical trials and studies to define the future role of proton therapy in other groups of patients.
Jahzara's cancer arose in her Central Nervous System (CNS) made up of her brain and spine, the conventional Radiotherapy would be applied systemically – from her head to her tailbone, and will impact the entirety of her vital organs system. While the 'magic beam' machine targets tumours far more precisely than radiotherapy and with minimal damage to surrounding tissue, particularly important in treating cancer in children.
Gill said: "Conventional radiotherapy could cause damage to her brain, heart, eyes, ovaries and more are likely to result in side effects such as decreased function, memory loss, impaired vision, loss of hearing and infertility. This has meant we must raise the funds to get Jahzara the 2nd course of Proton Therapy that she needs."
Jahzara's specialist Oncologist has referred the family to a Proton Therapy treatment centre in Germany, but the family say they need to raise £100,000 for treatment costs, travel, accommodation and living costs.
The fundraising page said: "Jahzara is the bravest, brightest and most kind-hearted 15-year-old we know. Preparing for her GCSEs should have been the biggest challenge she had to face this year, not fighting against cancer."
"Many of you who have met Jahzara know she is an absolute warrior, she has handled the news that the cancer has returned, the operation and potential radiotherapy side effects with incredible courage and strength and we are immensely proud of her fighting spirit."
For a chance to give Jahzara a better quality of life, the family is asking if anyone can donate to the crowdfunding page, or share their JustGiving cause as far as possible.
"We need your help to provide her with the best chance at being herself again after this battle, and to avoid a lifetime of battling with the side effects that conventional radiotherapy will cause."
For more information on and how to donate to help Jahzara and her family, click the link.
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