Alex, from Sydney was 13 when given the news on Mother’s Day 2013 that he had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. Alex’s journey included sixteen months of treatment and resulted in him missing large parts of his schooling.
“You don’t believe it at first,” Alex now 17 says. “It took me a while to realise I was the kid in hospital being treated for cancer. I only realised I had cancer when I overheard my mum and a nurse speaking about the chemotherapy I was receiving.”
Then your life just changes forever. You roll with the punches but being treated for cancer becomes all that you do.”
Thankfully, Alex is now back at school, but his journey is not over. As a result of the chemotherapy he received, Alex suffered reduced blood supply to his joints, which meant he had to receive a double hip replacement.
Nothing will stop Alex, however, who is currently inspiring his peers as the face of The Kids’ Cancer Project’s Youth 4 Youth Challenge to help kids not only fighting cancer but dealing with its long-term side effects.
“I don’t think it should just be adults who get the opportunity to raise funds and awareness. This is a disease that affects us and we can be just as powerful advocates to promote change, funding and research into childhood cancer,” said Alex.
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and thanks to research more children are surviving their diagnosis; however, over 90% of children who survive cancer will develop at least one chronic condition resulting from the cancer treatments endured.
“With community support, researchers can find better cancer treatments and help improve the quality of life for kids with cancer. Hopefully the next generation will have one hundred percent survival with minimal side effects,” concluded Alex.
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