A mum has revealed how her teenage son's itchy pores and skin situation turned out to be a symptom of a uncommon most cancers.
Ryan Thomson, from Stenhousemuir, Falkirk, had first started to really feel unwell round Christmas time final yr.
The 14-year previous, who performs for Stenhousemuir FC Neighborhood 07's soccer staff, had began to look 'sluggish' on the pitch main mum Audrey to note 'one thing wasn't proper'.
She was bewildered when Ryan started dropping pounds and affected by itchy pores and skin that unfold throughout his physique.
Audrey believed it could be an 'allergy' and tried altering her washing detergent however Ryan's pores and skin didn't enhance.
It was solely when the teen started complaining of 'swollen glands' in his neck on the finish of January that his mum made an pressing GP appointment, realizing then that one thing wasn't proper.
Inside hours of seeing his physician, Ryan was despatched to Larbert Hospital the place he underwent blood assessments and scans.
Audrey was left surprised when medics instructed her Ryan would should be taken by ambulance to Queen Elizabeth College Hospital in Glasgow for additional investigation.
Chatting with the Each day Document, Audrey stated: "They stated to me to not be completely alarmed, however they had been sending Ryan to a most cancers ward. Out of the blue, I used to be in full shock."
Every week later Ryan was given the devastating information that he had Hodgkins Lymphoma.
The uncommon type of blood most cancers impacts an individual's lymphocytes (a kind of white blood cell), which grow to be cancerous and multiply abnormally.
Frequent signs are swelling within the neck, armpit or groin - however night time sweats, weight reduction and itchy pores and skin may also be indicators.
Regardless of her son's life-changing analysis, Audrey stated she was relieved to know what was occurring in order that docs had been in a position to start remedy earlier than his well being deteriorated..
The 53-year-old defined: "They discovered the most cancers in his neck and chest and stated it was stage two.
"It was horrible, however it was truly a reduction as a result of it wasn’t in stage three, 4 or 5, which meant he wouldn’t want as a lot chemo and doubtless not radiotherapy."
Ryan started his first spherical of gruelling chemotherapy shortly after he was recognized.
His proud mum has been amazed by the teenager's resilience however admits his world has been turned the wrong way up.
A as soon as energetic Ryan is now quickly confined to his home to cut back his threat of catching Covid and different illness bugs that would set again his remedy.
The mum-of-four stated: "We're hoping for his remedy to finish in August however it's onerous for him. His twin brother Kyle can nonetheless exit along with his buddies however Ryan has to remain in.
"He was such a social boy and now his entire life is grounded, in addition to having to take care of the most cancers."
Audrey, who owns her personal enterprise, is now decided to lift consciousness of the signs to look out for with Hodgkins Lymphoma.
She stated: "I'd by no means have thought that itching or weightloss was an indication of most cancers.
"I simply need different mother and father to pay attention to the indicators. Ryan was recognized fairly early but when it went on longer we might have been in a special scenario.
"You might want to know your children. It is onerous when boys are youngsters, they don’t let you know something, however I simply knew one thing was unsuitable."
A fundraiser has now been launched to assist preserve Ryan's spirits up whereas he is caught at residence.
The cash raised will go in direction of making him a 'man cave' to help in his restoration and setting astroturf and targets in his backyard, so he can nonetheless apply his sport.
His mum has praised his soccer membership for his or her assist, with over £2,000 already raised.
You may donate to Ryan's fundraiser right here.
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