A five-year-old boy is looking forward to starting school after being cleared of a rare cancer – which looked like a bump on his head.
Harry Frank was diagnosed with Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) on February 1 2021, after having surgery to take his tonsils out.
His mothers, Stephanie, 37, and Elaine, 43, from Camelon, Falkirk, had spotted a lump on his head in August 2020 and took him to see the GP.
They thought Harry, who was aged three-and-a-half when the growth appeared, had fallen and banged his head.
An ultrasound was carried out but it was believed to be a cyst.
But a surgeon asked for the bump to be further investigated when Harry had his tonsils removed at Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Falkirk.
A couple of months after he celebrated his fourth birthday, Harry was diagnosed with LCH, a rare disorder that can damage tissue or cause lesions to form in the body.
Harry was operated on at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow – by which time the lump appeared to have disappeared but was growing into his skull bone.
Brave Harry underwent 30 rounds of chemo but was given the all-clear on May 3.
Mum-of-four Elaine said: “It was just a lump that appeared on his head out of the blue, we thought he had fallen as it was a very obvious bump.
“We took him to the GP who in turn referred him to Forth Valley Royal Hospital for an ultrasound.
“They thought it was a dermoid cyst but a few months later when Harry was in to have his tonsils removed the surgeon said it needed further investigation.
“He had an MRI scan in Glasgow and that’s when we heard he had this rare form of cancer.
“By this time there was no visible sign of the lump as it was now growing through his skull bone.
“Harry had to go into the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow for surgery.
“He then underwent about 30 sessions of chemotherapy.
“A couple of times he caught infections and had to go back into hospital.
“But we can’t thank the team there enough – they were fantastic.”
Consultant Dr Dermot Murphy responded to email queries at all hours, the grateful parents said.
Harry will start school in August, and got to dress up as Spiderman for his last day of nursery.
Elaine said: “The staff have been amazing all the way on this journey.
“Harry would go to nursery when he felt able and if he only lasted a couple of hours that was fine.
“When he was first diagnosed they came to our house, including one dressed as Spiderman, and put on a show for him in the front garden.
“He loved it.”
Stephanie Duncan, an early years officer at the nursery, said: “Harry is a confident, clever and full of energy wee boy.
“He started back at nursery with so much enthusiasm and love for playing with his friends.
“As well as having him walk through the playground where everyone cheered for him, the school singing group also performed a special song for him.”
