Drug will not cure Dawson's cancer

A family who raised £350,000 to give their son a chance to survive a rare form of cancer have been devastated after doctors told them he cannot be cured.

Dawson Willcock, who is nearly two, was diagnosed with hepatoblastoma in January.

His family were desperate to raise enough money to take him to America to have last chance treatment - but doctors now say they do not believe the drug will stop the disease..

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Dawson’s mum Wendy said she had not given up hope and still believes in miracles - but the money could be donated to help other children.

She said: “The prognosis for Dawson is very poor. He is on chemotherapy to lengthen his life to give him more time to spend with us.

“We were told the news about a week ago , we wanted to speak with my children before we told everyone.

“We can’t believe it, we didn’t realise how unfortunate his situation was and how aggressive his condition is.”

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A pioneering drug trial in Cincinnati seemed to offer hope but the family has now been told it will only extend his life for a short time.

Wendy said: “We are not giving up on him we are looking for more trials and trying to see if there is any other way.

“Dawson had a tumour sequence two or three months ago and we are still waiting on the results of that .

“There are also people in Barcelona looking to find something.

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“Dawson’s consultant at Queen’s Medical College has been wonderful.

“She mentioned a trial he wasn’t eligible because he had to be two years old to get on it. He will be old enough soon.

“We have got to keep trying . there are no words.

“We haven’t given up. We do believe in miracles and we still have hope.”

The family are still going ahead with fundraising. Wendy said if the money was not spent on Dawson she wanted to make a legacy for him for other childrens’ lives.

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Wendy added: “We want to set up a big static caravan where children with cancer and their families can get away from it all to have happy times and make memories.

“I am going to the funeral today of one of his friends on the ward.

People don’t realise there are so many children with cancer it is happening all the time.

“It is devastating - we have put everything into raising this money. We cannot believe how much support we have had it has been incredible.

“People who were complete strangers have become friends.

“If people could send a paper heart with a message on.

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“We were hoping to make a little book to show Dawson who supported him. It was to have been for his 18th birthday but it isn’t going to happen.

“It is more than a comfort to us. This support gives us strength.”

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