Heartbreak as Toddler Suffering From Constipation Diagnosed With Rare Cancer

Life has quickly changed for a 3-year-old boy named Arthur Currie after complaining of constipation for months, which turned out to be a rare form of cancer in his kidneys.

His grandmother, Sharon Currie, said that the family learned of Arthur's condition in October 2020 after going to the doctor for several tests. Though it took a while to find out what ailed the boy, the doctor determined that the toddler has stage 4 clear cell sarcoma of the kidney (CCSK). The doctor came across one case of CCSK before.

Currie told Manchester Evening News that cancer has spread to "nearly every bone" in her grandson's tiny body despite having chemotherapy and radiotherapy since his diagnosis. Now, they are playing the "waiting game" to see if the treatments are taking effect on Arthur's body.

However, in February 2022, Arthur's condition relapsed, and his family was told of the grim news. Despite the sad turn of events, the family is still fighting with Arthur, who has undergone another round of treatments.

What is CCSK?

Currie said that there is not a lot of research for clear cell sarcoma of the kidney, which takes up just four percent of renal tumors in kids being treated at children's hospitals. CCSK has been diagnosed in children between 2 to 4 years old, but it is not believed to be a hereditary condition. The experts still have no idea what causes CCSK.

Symptoms of CCSK include abdominal pain, back pain, abdominal swelling, a mass in the abdomen, and blood in the urine. However, the current prognosis of cases suggests that long-term survival for children with CCSK is no different from patients who have had months of therapy.

Thus, the Currie family hopes that this disease will receive more awareness and support for more studies and tests to save other children or get Arthur signed up for a miracle trial. The family has opened a GoFundMe page under the grandmother's name for more of Arthur's treatment or potential inclusion in a study.

Girl With "Constipation" Also Has Rare Cancer

Meanwhile, 5-year-old Dulcie O'Kelly also complained of stomach pain and swelling to her mother, Debbie O'Kelly. A scan showed that the girl had a mass on her stomach that was later confirmed as another type of cancer called stage 4 neuroblastoma.

Dulcie's cancer has affected her pelvis, spine, legs, and bone marrow; thus she requires intense chemotherapy. Debbie said that she was in disbelief upon learning of her daughter's condition as her family had never heard of neuroblastoma until this diagnosis. Her daughter is expected to be in treatment for 18 months and will likely never be cancer-free as neuroblastoma is aggressive.

Neuroblastoma begins in the adrenal glands above the kidneys, which controls hormones that regulate blood pressure and other body functions. This type of cancer occurs in children under 5 years old, and the success of the treatment depends on many factors, including the gravity of the disease.