Family's joy as Lewis is declared cancer free
Oct 6 2007 by Audrey Barton, The Journal
A SCHOOLBOY from Tyneside has been declared cancer free after enduring over two years of chemotherapy to beat a rare form of the disease.
Lewis Adams, 11, of Forest Hall, was diagnosed with a rare form of non-Hodgkins lymphoma days after he celebrated his fifth birthday.
The George Stephenson High School pupil underwent surgery and had a year of intensive chemotherapy during which time he lived in hospital.
Another year-and-a-half of milder treatment followed and despite losing his hair and taking strong steroids, he never complained, said his 36-year-old mother Lisa.
Now four years on from the end of his treatment, he has been told by doctors at the Royal Victoria Infirmary he is in remission and is enjoying a normal life. “We feel like a weight has been lifted,” said Lisa.
“I look at him now and can’t believe how poorly he was and how close he came to dying.
“He looks amazing now. No one would ever know he had cancer.”
Lewis had surgery twice to remove fluid on his lungs and suffered a collapsed lung and pneumonia after he was diagnosed in June 2001. His family, including father Roy, a 39-year-old butcher, eight-year-old sister Hollie, and Lisa spent Christmas in hospital with him and the best part of the next year while he continued with his treatment.
Lisa added: “This type of cancer of the lymph glands is very rare. It’s more common in teenagers and older people rather than children.
“They only get one case every year at the RVI.”
Lewis returned every month initially, then every six months for scans which have showed he is cancer free.
“Four years is classed as being in remission, which was this summer, so hopefully everything will be OK,” said Lisa.
Lisa, a radiographic assistant at The Freeman Hospital in Newcastle, paid tribute to the doctors and nursing staff at the RVI for their efforts in treating Lewis.
The mother-of-two put on four stone through the stress and upheaval of her son’s illness.
She has now shed all of that weight and keeps the whole family in good shape with healthy meals and exercise.
She said: “We are a healthy family all round now. Lewis’s illness has spurred us on to look after our own health.”
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Life goes on for cancer victim Moncur
The former skipper underwent surgery earlier this week to remove a tumour after being diagnosed with the condition a month ago.
But Mr Moncur, 62, said he will carry on as normal and hopes to cover United’s game against Everton tomorrow for radio.
The defiant former Scotland skipper, who lives in Gateshead, underwent surgery at the town’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital last week. He said: “As far as my life is concerned, it will be business as usual, starting with the home game against Everton on Sunday. My sincere thanks to Mark Katory and his team for the magnificent attention during my stay at the Queen Elizabeth and of course to my family for their invaluable support during this difficult time. Now I will wait for the test results to see where I go from there, but I know that I am not out of the woods yet.
“People should not be surprised to see me at work as usual, albeit I may be walking a little slower than normal.”
Bob guided Newcastle United to victory in the 1969 Fairs Cup Final against Hungarian side Ujpest Dosza and was described by then manager Joe Harvey as “the supreme sweeper”.
He netted three goals during the tie over two legs to deliver silverware to Tyneside. His last was appearance for United was in the 1974 FA Cup Final against Liverpool before he signed for Sunderland and skippered them to promotion in 1976.
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