THE family of a little boy who went to the doctor 11 times before being diagnosed with the ‘largest tumour medics had seen’ are telling his story to mark World Cancer Day.

Ellis Edwards, who is six and lives in Bournemouth, was first diagnosed with stage four aggressive neuroblastoma in March last year when he was just five years old.

He has since faced 10 months of treatment, including surgery, to remove the tumour.

Throughout his ordeal, his family has been supported by children’s cancer charity CLIC Sargent.

Ellis’s mum and dad, Carly and Andrew, faced every parent’s worst nightmare when they noticed the youngster was lacking energy and losing weight. They took him to their GP 11 times before finally taking him to A&E to get answers.

X-rays discovered Ellis’s left lung had been deflated by what doctors later described as the ‘largest tumour they had seen’.

Carly, 37, said: “We were told to prepare ourselves for the worst and pack our bags for a long stay before being blue-lighted together in an ambulance to Southampton General.”

By 6pm that day, the family were told Ellis had cancer. The family were given a place to stay in Jean’s House – one of CLIC Sargent’s Homes from Home near Southampton Hospital. The free accommodation meant Ellis’s parents and his younger brother William could be close to Ellis during his treatment.

Now the Edwards family are giving something back by supporting CLIC Sargent’s World Cancer Day campaign to raise vital funds and awareness.

Members of the public are asked to donate £2 by buying a ‘band against cancer’ wristband, available in three limited designs.

Carly said: “Without CLIC Sargent’s amazing help I don’t know how we’d have coped these past few months – to be able to stay together in amazing facilities, for free, it means everything to us. Jean’s House was an oasis of calm and quiet when we most needed it.”

The family stayed in the Home from Home over Christmas whilst Ellis was in hospital. This January, the family finally got to leave hospital and are now at home.

“We have more tests coming up, and his survival is still far from guaranteed, but for the first time in months we feel positive,” she said.

Liz Blunt, CLIC Sargent Fundraising & Engagement Manager for Hampshire and Dorset, said: “Today, 12 more children and young people in the UK will hear the devastating news that they have cancer.

“A cancer diagnosis disrupts every aspect of a young person’s life but with your help, CLIC Sargent can fight for these families by providing practical, emotional and financial support, to help minimise the damage cancer causes.

“Donating and getting one of our bands is a simple way to show your support for families like Ellis’s and CLIC Sargent, this World Cancer Day.”

The wristbands are also available in J D Wetherspoon pubs, Morrisons stores and select H Samuel and Ernest Jones stores.

To find out more about World Cancer Day and to get your own Band Against Cancer wristband go to www.clicsargent.org.uk/WorldCancerDay.