'Doctors thought my boy, 2, had constipation - but it was rare cancer'

Tommy Paul Quinn started to take unwell following a family holiday back in January this year, with his mum and dad noticing the bouts were brought on after eating certain foods

A mother has shared the harrowing moment when she discovered her son had a rare and aggressive cancer with only a 50% survival rate. Tommy Paul Quinn fell ill following a family holiday in January, and his parents Nicole, 37, and David, 41, initially thought he might have a food allergy after observing that certain foods triggered his episodes.

They noticed too that the two-year-old had trouble sleeping, but put it down to his age. Concerns escalated during a family party when nurse Nicole noticed her usually playful son was lethargic, hadn't drunk anything or used the toilet for hours. After calling NHS 24, the family from Bishopbriggs rushed to Glasgow Children's Hospital fearing the worst.

Although Tommy's condition seemed to improve slightly at the hospital, prompting a temporary return home, it wasn't long before his parents brought him back, convinced something was seriously wrong.

Speaking with Glasgow Live, Nicole recalled: "We had given him something to drink when we got home and we woke to find he had been sick everywhere. I just had a feeling that we needed to take him back because something wasn't right. He wasn't his usual self but never in my wildest dreams did I imagine it was what it would turn out to be."

Tommy was initially taken to a doctor who suggested his symptoms might be due to constipation and proceeded to examine his stomach. The Glasgow mum recalled:: "The registrar came in and felt his tummy and her face just dropped. Everything started spiraling from there."

Tommy underwent blood tests, had an IV line put in, and a consultant arranged for an ultrasound scan the next morning. Nicole said: "She advised us that the mass is unlikely to be constipation and given his age and other symptoms, it is likely to be something nasty."

After the scan, the family's fears grew when they were told a consultant would see them on the ward. "We knew then something serious was going on", Nicole said. Following extensive testing, she received the devastating news that Tommy had Stage 4 High-Risk Neuroblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of childhood cancer with a 50% survival rate. The tumour was located on his adrenal gland, with secondary growths in his lymph nodes, thorax, and spinal cord.

Nicole expressed her shock and heartache, saying: "He is a typical boisterous boy who loves playing with cars. You see these things happening in the news but you never expect it to happen to your son."

Before starting a tough induction chemotherapy regime, which included seven potent drugs with harsh side effects, Tommy had to undergo tests on his heart, hearing, and kidneys, and have a central line inserted.

In addition to enduring the effects of chemotherapy, Tommy underwent numerous bone marrow procedures, blood transfusions, CT and MRI scans, nuclear MIBG scans, G-CSF injections, stem cell harvest, tumour resection and his first intensive chemotherapy and stem cell transplant. The chemotherapy also caused him to lose his hearing, necessitating the use of hearing aids.

Despite these challenges, Tommy's mum said: "He is blissfully unaware he is so sick. He'll be attached to four or five chemo lines and doing forward rolls in the ward. Me and David have to chase him with the machines when he is on his scuttle bug to make sure he doesn't go too far away. It took him four or five chemo rounds to come back to himself."

She continued: "But he is a whirlwind now. He had keyhole surgery for his tumour and got home two days later. I looked away from him and he was outside on his trampoline bouncing away. He has amazed us all with his resilience and strength, keeping his cheeky smile and mischievous nature and making us so proud of how he is coping daily and taking it all in his stride."

The toddler now faces 18 months of treatment before the family will know if the cancer is in remission. However, the mum warns that even if the treatment is successful, there is still a very high risk that Tommy could relapse and his cancer could return, which is 'frighteningly common' with High Risk Neuroblastoma.

If the cancer returns, Tommy's survival chances could plummet to a mere 5-10%. The family remains hopeful but has started a fundraiser to cover potential treatment costs, which might require travel to England or even the United States, with expenses potentially reaching £250,000. The GoFundMe page states: "Unfortunately we will not know if Tommy's cancer has gone into remission until his end-of-treatment scans. If he does not manage remission, the treatment options available on the NHS are reduced and often require families to travel to other parts of the UK which they would need to self-fund."

It continues: "There are also a number of clinical trials available outwith the UK that Tommy could access should his cancer not be cured at the end of treatment which we would need to self-fund."

The fundraiser explains: "The money that we raise will go towards getting Tommy any treatment he needs, improving his quality of life and supporting him and his family during this time. We want to give Tommy the best chance at beating this awful cancer."

It adds a note of gratitude and purpose: "Any money not used to treat and support Tommy during this time, will be gifted to Neuroblastoma UK and other charities that have assisted us during this dreadful time. Every penny counts."

Those who wish to contribute can donate here.