A SCHOOLBOY has been denied life-extending treatment because his incurable brain tumour is one millimetre too small, his heartbroken parents have said. Ronnie Hood , 11, was given just months to live after being diagnosed with a diffuse midline glioma in March. He underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy , but this only helped to shrink his tumour very slightly.
It was, however, a big enough reduction that he no longer qualifies for ONC201 - an experimental drug being trialled for serious brain tumours in children and young adults. Dad Nick told the BBC : "We got the news it had shrunk, which is obviously very good news, but the double-edged sword was that we are now not eligible for the drug. "If there is a change, then we will be eligible, but in the meantime we are sourcing it ourselves.
READ MORE ON BRAIN TUMOURS "It costs about £700 per pill, or it would be about £4,000 a month." The family have set up a GoFundMe page to help pay for the private treatment. So far, they have raised more than £30,000.
Mum Vicky said: "We can't thank everyone enough." Most read in Health Ronnie, from Sudbury, Suffolk , had been experiencing unbearable neck pain and tingling in his fingers for about a year. His parents took him to their GP but claim the doctor simply ordered physio - saying the issue was due to the gamer "playing on his phone too much".
When his symptoms didn't improve, and physio exercises left him "crying in pain", Nick, 58, and Vicky, 50, pushed for an MRI scan. Ronnie .