Comment | Read Comments (5)

Felicia Cantone with her dog Fifi AMJ6T3

CUTTING-EDGE stem cell treatment could be one option available to help young Felicia Cantone battle cancer.

The brave ten-year-old has been fighting Ewing's sarcoma, a type of bone cancer, for three years and has already had her leg amputated.

She has undergone gruelling chemotherapy treatment in a bid to treat secondary lung cancer.

Felicia, of Leighton Avenue, Leigh, amazed everyone by returning to North Street Junior School, in Leigh, days after the amputation.

She has had a series of tests to see if the lung cancer is shrinking and, with her parents Sammi and Carlo, faces a decision next week on what possibilities they may face.

Her mum Sammi, 41, said: "She has had a lot of scans and tests to see if the chemotherapy has managed to kill the secondary cancer. If it hasn't then we will discuss with the doctor other forms of treatment.

"There is possible radiotherapy she can have, or she may be able to be involved in clinical trials of drugs or even stem cell treatment, which we don't know much about at this stage."

"She has finished chemotherapy and it's all she can possibly have. We have got to try everything available."

Stem cell transplants were developed after isolating stem cells from donated bone marrow. The cells have the potential to generate many types of adult cell, including cells of the immune system, which recognise and kill cancer cells, so can produce an anti-cancer immune response.

Meanwhile, Felicia is looking forward to dressing up for a fundraising ball.

The black-tie ball and prize draw is being held by Echo reader Elvi Caskey and will take place at Hollywood restaurant in Shipwrights Drive, Thundersley, to raise money to pay for treatment.

Money raised at the event, which starts at 7pm on Saturday, March 22, will be matched by National Australia Bank, which employs Elvi's husband Paul.

To buy the £20 tickets, call Elvi on 07917 043392 or e-mail elvicaskey@btinternet.com If you would like to donate, you contact Carlo Cantone at carlocantone@hotmail.com

Print

Email this

Comment

Add your comment

Name:
Email: *
Location:
**
	e.g. 123-123
Comment: Please note: All HTML tags will be ignored. Format Text:
By posting a comment, I confirm that I have read and agree to the terms of use. Comments are not moderated but we will react if anything that breaks the rules comes to our attention and we may delete inappropriate postings. Please treat other people with respect. You must not post anything that is abusive, indecent, unlawful or defamatory. Remember, you are personally liable for what you post on this site. If you wish to complain about a comment, contact us here.
* Your email address will not be displayed ** To avoid register now or login