Madison’s gran vows to raise awareness of childhood cancer

8:30pm Wednesday 28th December 2011 in News

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MADISON Allan’s grandmother has vowed to start an awareness campaign about childhood cancer Neuroblastoma.

Seven-year-old Madison, of Lord’s Crescent, lower Darwen, died on Boxing Day, having fought the aggressive tumour since being a baby.

Alison Foster, also of Lord’s Crescent, is keen for parents to know the early symptoms before it is too late.

she “It’s not just Maddi who has suffered from this, there are plenty more, and it needs highlighting.

“Sir Ian Botham did a lot to raise awareness of Leukaemia, and we need someone high profile to do the same for Neuroblastoma. I’m sure it can be done. “

she has previously said: “Neuroblastoma still has the same terrible survival statistics now that it had 20 years ago. we still use the same drugs to treat it that we did 45 years ago. This would be unacceptable in any adult disease.

“There are better drugs and therapies available in other countries, but because there is so much red tape in UK politics, we can’t get the drugs made legal for use in children.

“All that is needed is a nationwide campaign which promotes the signs and symptoms of Neuroblasoma to aid early detection, and one that aims to make the word commonplace in every day usage.

“Every year in the UK 100 more children have to fight this disease and most of them don’t make it because lack of awareness meant they were diagnosed too late. Lack of funding and awareness also means many of these children will have to seek treatment abroad.”

Neuroblastoma is cancer that develops from nerve tissue, occurring in infants and children.

It can occur in many areas of the body, but most begin in the abdomen in the adrenal gland or next to the spinal cord, or in the chest.

The disorder occurs in approximately 1 out of 100,000 children and is slightly more common in boys.

In most patients, the Neuroblastoma has already spread when it is first diagnosed.