Peterborough boy begins cancer treatment after £200k raised

Although the full amount has not been raised, the hospital agreed to take payment for Adamas' treatment in phases

A seriously ill two-year-old boy is to start treatment for cancer after his parents said they had just three months to save his life.

Adamas, from Peterborough, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare, aggressive and complex cancer, in 2022.

He has had chemotherapy and a kidney removed but his family said their final hope was a £300,000 clinical trial in Italy.

More than £200,000 has been raised and he will start treatment on Monday.

Adamas loves playing football and basketball

His family set up a online fundraiser to finance Adamas' treatment.

His mother Egle previously told the BBC: "The only hope was to get Adamas on a clinical trial that takes place in Rome called CAR-T but it's not funded by the NHS and has to be paid by parents."

She said although they had not raised the full amount, the hospital had agreed to let them pay for treatment in phases.

"Adamas is full of beans. He's a very brave, happy little boy and a true inspiration for many of us," she said.

"For us as parents it helps emotionally to see him so full of life. We are feeling mixed emotions, but very thankful because our son can have this potentially life-saving treatment."

She said the family had not expected the amount of support they received.

Adamas was diagnosed at 14 months old and underwent chemotherapy

She and her husband, Robertas, believe they could yet reach the full amount.

Adamas was diagnosed at 14 months old and underwent chemotherapy.

Months later, he had an 11-hour operation to remove his left kidney which was wrapped by a sizeable tumour.

Scans showed another tumour was growing back from the remaining cancer cells around his main blood vessels.

In 2023 he started high doses of chemotherapy, steam cells transplant, and 12 cycles of radiotherapy, and immunotherapy.

Adamas will start a clinical trial in Rome

In February 2024, a new 3cm (1in) growth, which also needed surgery to remove, was shown on a routine scan.

After all the tests, his parents said they found out there was a cancer cell modification that could not be beaten by conventional treatments offered by hospitals.

The first phase of Adamas' treatment will start next week.

Adamas faced an 11-hour operation to remove his left kidney