Little Michael receives cancer bravery accolade

Little Michael receives cancer bravery accolade

21 December 2022

A BRAVE little Downpatrick boy who battled cancer has been recognised with a special national award. 

Michael McCreesh was just 11 months old when he was diagnosed with cancer in July 2020.  

Now aged three, Michael has received a Cancer Research UK for Children and Young People Star Award for the courage he showed throughout his treatment. 

Michael received a star-shaped trophy, as well as a £50 TK Maxx gift card, T-shirt and a certificate signed by celebrities.

In July 2020 Michael’s mum, Anna, noticed that her normally happy son Michael was showing signs of being unwell, but she never imagined the devastation that was coming to the family.

Initially she thought Michael may have a tummy bug, or even be constipated, but when she noticed his nappies were dry, she rang the on-call doctor who told her to take him to A&E.

They thought it was a urine infection and gave him juice to re-hydrate him. However, things did not improve as this was filling his bladder, which was not emptying.

When a lump suddenly appeared on his side they did an ultra sound and attached a catheter to drain the bladder. Still checking that there may be an infection somewhere, blood tests were taken which showed that markers were high, but not enough to stop him going to the toilet.

An MRI scan alerted them that something was not quite right and Michael then had a CT scan which showed a tumour.  They were unsure if it was bladder or prostate, but it was so big that it filled his whole abdomen and was the size an adult would normally have.

Anna recalls: “I remembered feeling a hardness on his stomach and thought he was constipated, but I was so shocked to find out that it was actually the tumour I felt.”

Michael was then referred to the Royal Victoria Hospital where biopsies were taken from the tumour. Two little holes were made in the bottom of his back, and from these bone marrow samples were taken to check for spread. Thankfully it had not and Michael began chemotherapy on July 20.

“We were given options as to what would be the best course of treatment,” Anna continued. “The surgeon explained that the tumour was too big to remove it all and he was weighing up wanting to preserve a life, but also wanting to leave Michael with the best life possible and everything working as well as could be achieved.

“One treatment suggested was brachytherapy, which meant travelling to Great Ormond Street Hospital. 

However, not everyone is suitable for this treatment, so we travelled to London in October for an assessment.

“We were delighted that test results showed Michael would be suitable. In fact, we discovered that over a 12-year period, Michael was only the 33rd patient ever to receive it.”

This was the beginning of a very long and traumatic journey for Michael’s family. They travelled to London on December 20 when Michael began brachytherapy – a form of radiation therapy where a sealed radiation source is placed inside or next to the area requiring treatment.

A brace was made to hold him down on the table and, under sedation, 16 metal rods were ed. A CT scan enabled them to check that these were placed correctly, with the tip of each rod touching the tumour.

This treatment lasted 10 days. Then it was back to the ward at the RVH in Belfast for more chemotherapy.

“This was a very difficult time for us as, due to Covid, Michael was only allowed one person with him at a time,” said Anna.

“Initially we split these visits between us, with his dad, Christopher, doing days and I took over at night. However, due to the strict requirements for sanitisation that had to end and we were restricted to one person only. Once inside that person could not leave again throughout his treatment.”

That tore the family apart as Anna stayed with Michael and dad Christopher took care of his older brother Conor (15).

Michael was allowed a break of six days so they could all spend Christmas together, but then he was back to hospital for intensive chemotherapy up until February 21, followed by maintenance chemotherapy until August 21.

As time passed, Michael had a few episodes of pain when passing urine, but alarm bells rang when these 

became stronger and more frequent – up to three or four times a day.

“He was a little older at this stage and more aware of what was happening,” explained Anna. “In fact he became very self-conscious when he was doubled up with pain saying, ‘Don’t look at me’.

“We returned to London where doctors said it might be scar tissue. However, they carried out scans every four weeks, then every eight weeks in order to keep a check on it.”

It was a very worrying time, but the good news was that there was no disease and Michael is now a lively, sociable little boy who loves his friends and is so excited to be going to pre-school in January.

Anna continued: “It has been a very traumatic time for all the family, but the doctors and nurses were so amazing that they made an unbearable time a little bit easier. Even though they were extremely busy and never got a spare minute, they were helpful and so patient.

“I would also like to thank all the wonderful people who supported us on this journey – family, friends and the local community. They will never know just how much their help meant to us.”

Around 60 children age 0 -14 are diagnosed with cancer in Northern Ireland every year, but research is helping to transform survival.

Many of the world’s most successful clinical trials of children’s cancer treatments have been funded by Cancer Research UK.

The Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children is one of the many centres across the UK taking part in ground-breaking clinical trials coordinated by Cancer Research UK’s?Children’s Cancer Trials Team. These trials make innovative new treatments available to children with cancer across Northern Ireland.

Through the Star Awards the charity hopes to shine a light on some of the challenges faced by children like Michael.

Cancer Research UK spokesperson for Northern Ireland Jean Walsh said: “Michael is a real star who has been through so much at such a young age. It has been an absolute privilege to be able to celebrate his courage with a Star Award.

“As we mark our 20th anniversary, we’re reflecting on the progress made in the fight against the disease, but there’s still much further to go.

“Cancer in children and young people is different to cancer in adults, from the types of cancer to the impact of treatment - and many youngsters may experience serious long-term side effects. That’s why we’re supporting dedicated research to ensure more children and young people survive cancer with a good quality of life.

“We’re urging people in Northern Ireland to nominate inspirational children like Michael for a Star Award now, so that many more affected by this devastating disease can receive the acknowledgement they so richly deserve.”

The Star Awards are run in partnership with TK Maxx, the biggest corporate supporter of Cancer Research UK’s work into children’s and young people’s cancers.