Have you ever wondered who this little boy is? Lucas Browne looks like a happy kid enjoying a day at the beach, however he is the poster boy for the Targeting Cancer website for a reason.
This is Lucas’s story, as told by his parents Tim and Amelia Browne.
In July 2014 , when Lucas was two years old, we noticed he had developed a sudden constant head tilt. Lucas’s childcare teachers also noticed this and our concern led us to consult a local GP. With no diagnosis, we then spent five weeks travelling back and forth to Mona Vale Hospital, under the care of a paediatrician, trying to get a diagnosis.
The period we spent at the hospital was worrying, we were in and out of the emergency department as Lucas had random bouts of vomiting and high temperatures. He recovered every time though and we were sent home. Lucas had weekly appointments at the hospital undergoing blood tests and all sorts of examinations. In spite of this, Lucas still managed to run happily up the corridor showing the medical staff how active and cheerful he still was. He had a healthy appetite and sat happily consuming all the snacks we packed him for these visits at the hospital. By all indications, Lucas was a healthy boy except for the very obvious head tilt.
Five weeks later and after numerous tests that suggested nothing was wrong, we were then referred to an eye specialist. Lucas didn’t enjoy this particular examination and it seemed to take longer than usual – it appeared the specialist was onto something, not that we knew what it was at this stage! We understood that a nerve in his eye didn’t look quite right and we were worried that he might have to wear glasses.
At the end of the eye specialist appointment on a Friday, Lucas was booked in for an MRI at Westmead Children’s Hospital for the following Monday. Lucas was not well at all on the day he had the MRI — the 4th of August 2014. The test seemed to take a long time to complete. We were called in to see the specialist and to our shock, were told that a large tumour had been found in his brain.
“We could not be happier with how well Lucas is continuing to prove to us that he has won this battle!“
It has been two years since the diagnosis and we are keeping our fingers crossed for that five year milestone, when he will be considered to be in the all clear. As unfortunate as we were to have experienced the events we have been through, we feel so privileged and lucky to have a happy and healthy Lucas by our side now.
ABC News 24 Interview with the Browne Family
More information about Brain Cancer Treatment and how radiation therapy can help.
