A Blantyre schoolgirl who is among the first in Scotland to take part in a new clinical trial is fronting a nationwide campaign to mark Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
Six-year-old Fearne Stewart is part of the UK arm of the AllTogether-1 clinical trial. The international study which is funded by Cancer Research UK involves patients from countries across Europe. It investigates how to treat acute lymphoblastic leukaemia more effectively. The overall aim is to give each child or young adult the right amount of treatment to cure their leukaemia and stop it from coming back while keeping the side effects as low as possible
Now Fearne, from Blantyre in South Lanarkshire, stars in an inspirational poster drive for Cancer Research UK for Children & Young People that features in more than 500 of the charity’s shops this September. Fearne, who is in remission from leukaemia, visited the CRUK store at Bellshill to see her poster on show near the till for the first time.
The poster shows a special moment for Fearne and her family at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow on May 25 this year where she rang a rainbow decorated bell to mark the end of treatment. A photo of Fearne this spring on a family holiday at a red squirrel trail in Aviemore is also on display.
The poster campaign appeals for people to pick up a gold-ribbon badge – the symbol of childhood cancer awareness – to help support research that makes moments like this possible.
Around 310 children and young people are diagnosed with cancer in Scotland every year.* Fearne’s parents, Paula and Gary Stewart are determined to help raise vital awareness and funds to save the lives of more youngsters like her.
Dad Gary, 37, said: “Ringing the end of treatment bell in hospital brought so much light, pride and excitement after a time that had been incredibly hard for Fearne and all of our family.
“Fearne’s story highlights the power of research and we’re so proud she’s a part of this important campaign that could drive more of the progress she’s been fortunate to benefit from. Her poster in hundreds of shops this September is an incredible celebration of how far Fearne has come. She’s loving school, Rainbow guides, swimming lessons and it’s felt wonderful to return to all of these things.
“We are immensely proud of Fearne for taking part in the clinical trial. The progress that has been made in improving the outlook for children with leukaemia is only possible because of organisations like CRUK and the courage of young people who took part in research before Fearne. By joining the clinical trial, Fearne is helping to create a brighter future for others who will face the same journey.”
Fearne’s family vividly recall the moment they were told that she had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, a cancer of the white blood cells which help the blood fight infection. The news was confirmed on April 27, 2023. They had travelled to hospital several days earlier by ambulance under blue light from University Hospital, Wishaw near their home after tests had shown that Fearne was seriously unwell as her blood platelet levels were low.
For several weeks prior to this, Fearne had suffered symptoms including bruises, pains in her legs making her struggle to walk and exhaustion. She had also experienced night sweats, a sore stomach, weight loss, pale skin and repeated infections over a short time. An article on the Cancer Research UK website about symptoms of cancer in children had prompted Fearne’s parents to get advice and on the day of Fearne’s hospital appointment she had also developed a purple rash on her skin.
Gary said: “Fearne was only four at the time.
“We told her that doctors were going to make her better. Our son Joseph was a baby then so Fearne’s mum and I had to take turns sleeping at Fearne’s bedside in hospital while the other parent looked after Joseph.
“When Fearne was diagnosed, we knew the road ahead would be tough. Treatment had so many side effects from losing her hair to feeling unwell and missing out on normal childhood moments. We braced ourselves for how hard it might be on Fearne but she showed incredible resilience. As soon as she was well enough, she was back in the hospital playroom, determined to keep seeking the positives through it all.
“We decided early on that if Fearne could stay strong, then we had to as well. Despite the challenges, Fearne has faced everything with such courage and, more often than not, with a smile.”
Fearne was in hospital for six weeks at the start of treatment. Last year Fearne received a Cancer Research UK for Children & Young People star award in recognition of the courage she has shown since diagnosis.
Today, more than nine in 10 children and young people who are prescribed cancer drugs in the UK receive at least one drug that Cancer Research UK has helped to develop.**
And thanks in part to the charity’s work, in the last 50 years, around 34,500 children and young people in the UK with cancer have survived into adulthood.***
But too many young lives are still lost to this devastating disease. That’s why in Glasgow the Royal Hospital for Children is one of many centres across the UK taking part in groundbreaking trials coordinated by Cancer Research UK’s dedicated clinical trials unit for children’s cancers. These trials make innovative new treatments available to children and young people with cancer in the city and across Scotland.
Cancer Research UK spokeswoman in Scotland, Lisa Adams, said: “Cancer is different in children and young people – from the types of cancers that affect this age group, to the long-term effects of treatment such as hearing loss and infertility. So, it needs a different and dedicated approach that we’re grateful to our supporters acrossScotland for helping to make possible.
“Their generosity is enabling our scientists to unlock discoveries about these cancers and translate them into new and better ways to diagnose and treat them. So, this Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, we hope people will get behind our mission to ensure more youngsters live longer, better lives free from the fear of cancer.”
Pick up a gold ribbon pin badge in Cancer Research UK shops or donate atcruk.org/childrenandyoungpeople
