Teenager's Inoperable Brain Tumor Spurs Search for Treatment Abroad

Fifteen-year-old Callum Stone was sent home from school due to a headache. His family was later given a devastating diagnosis after doctors examined him. Callum was diagnosed with an "inoperable" brain tumor, prompting his family to seek treatment options in other countries.

In January, Callum's mother, Sarah Ferris, and stepfather, Mark Ferris, were contacted by his school and asked to collect him. Upon arrival, Mark noticed Callum was struggling to speak properly. He took Callum to the A&E in Chelmsford, Essex, where the teenager experienced three seizures. After an inconclusive week in the hospital, Callum was transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London for further tests, where he received the diagnosis of a grade four brain tumor. The tumor's growth pattern, described as "like a cobweb," made surgery impossible.

The family has explored all available options and determined that there are "no other options for him on the NHS." They have launched a fundraising campaign to help cover the costs of potential treatments outside the UK. Callum is focusing on his fitness and diet. He has been exercising, walking the dog, riding his bike, and going to the gym.

Callum's parents described him as an active teenager with a healthy lifestyle. He cycles to school, is taking GCSE PE, and enjoys basketball. The initial symptoms began on January 20, when he complained of a headache at school. After initial tests at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford were inconclusive, he was discharged with anti-seizure medication. A follow-up appointment at Great Ormond Street Hospital revealed a "large tumor" in his brain. A biopsy in February confirmed a diffuse grade four glioma, a type of cancerous tumor.

Callum underwent a six-week course of radiotherapy at University College Hospital in London, which concluded on April 4. He will have an MRI scan in May to assess the tumor's response to treatment. He will also begin ongoing chemotherapy treatment in tablet form. His family is now looking into treatment options abroad, including clinics in Germany and clinical trials in San Francisco.

The fundraising campaign has raised over £50,000. The family has been touched by the support. The NHS advises that brain tumor symptoms vary but can include headaches, seizures, nausea, behavioral changes, weakness, or speech problems. Brain tumors can affect people of any age, with around 12,000 people diagnosed with a primary brain tumor in the UK each year.