Cautious hope after brain scan (From Croydon Guardian)

Cautious hope after brain scan

12:31pm Wednesday 17th July 2002 in News By Joseph O Shea

After an anxious wait, the Haddad family from West Croydon, whose nine-year-old James is suffering from a rare brain condition, have received some encouraging results from his latest scan.

A long-awaited MRI scan took place at the Royal Marsden Hospital last week, some seven months after the first one revealed that James was critically ill. The results of this latest brain scan showed that the disease had not progressed and his condition had not worsened, giving the family cause for cautious optimism.

His father Robert said: "While the results are encouraging, the specialists have warned us that this could change overnight. James is in good health, and thankfully he is not suffering from some of the side effects expected from such extreme treatment."

After the initial diagnosis, James was put on radiotherapy for six weeks, which produced some encouraging results. But all consultants were repeatedly cautious not to extend false hope.

After hours of painstaking research, Robert and Sue learned of pioneering new drugs, available to children of James' age, but which came at a high cost. The cost, the Haddads believe, is what dissuaded NHS doctors from pursuing this research and treatment.

Sue said: "Most of us have been paying thousands of pounds into the health service all our working lives. At our time of most need we should not have to feel guilty for the cost of treatment, especially as it could be James's only hope."

James was eventually put on the drugs which he takes with nutrition supplements that cost over £200 per month, a considerable cost for a family living on one salary.

The latest encouraging MRI results suggest the current treatment is having an impact, so the Haddads and doctors will continue the present course of treatment and pray that they overcome the offending cells in James's brain.

In the meantime the family needs help in meeting the costs of caring for James, supplementing his treatment and seeking treatment abroad, should it be necessary. Since the James Haddad Appeal Fund was launched in March, over £15,000 has been raised, but the target figure of £80,000 is still some way off.