My son, 5, had a sore tummy after falling over in the park – it turned out it was cancer

• Reid Scanlon from Pontypridd fell over in the park while with his childminder
• The fall revealed there was a tumour the size of a grapefruit in his left kidney
• There were ‘no signs at all’ and the mass had been growing for months

The family of a five-year-old boy were shocked to discover he had cancer after he fell over in the park.

Reid Scanlon from Pontypridd was playing at Taff’s Well Park in Cardiff on August 17, where he was being watched by his childminder.

The little boy had a fall and shortly afterwards began complaining of stomach pain, his mum Alison told WalesOnline.

He was taken to A&E where nurses said they were concerned he could have an issue with his spleen.

However, further tests revealed at Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital at University Hospital Wales, revealed that there was a Wilms’ tumour in Reid’s left kidney.

The little boy had a fall and shortly afterwards began complaining of stomach pain, Reid’s mum Alison (right) told WalesOnline

Reid Scanlon from Pontrypridd was playing at Taff’s Well Park in Cardiff on August 17, where he was being watched by his childminder

His mum was told the tumour, also known as nephroblastoma, was the size of a grapefruit.

Devastatingly, it was later found that Reid also had more smaller tumours in his right kidney.

Alison said while the news was a ‘complete shock,’ it’s a ‘blessing’ that he fell over while he was playing, causing the tumour to be found.

The fall caused some minor internal bleeding from the nephroblastoma, which might not otherwise have been discovered until a later date,

The mother-of-four added: ‘He seemed to be a very fit and healthy young boy. He loves playing and being outdoors. He’s often wrestling with his older brothers.

‘It’s been horrible. When you hear the word cancer you feel like it’s the end of the world and we’ve been very worried, and we are worried. 

‘But the consultant has told us treatment is available for Reid and we’re hopeful it will work.’

Reid will now start six weeks of chemotherapy in the hope that his tumours will shrink enough for his kidneys to be operated on. 

Alison said while the news was a ‘complete shock,’ it’s a ‘blessing’ that he fell over while he was playing, causing the tumour to be found

Reid will now start six weeks of chemotherapy, involving alternating treatment options, with the hope that his tumours will shrink enough for his kidney’s to be able to be operated on

The deadly cancer that attacks children: What is nephroblastoma?

Nephroblastoma, which is also referred to as Wilms tumor, is a rare cancer that starts in the kidneys and typically affects young children between the ages of three and four. 

It is the most common form of kidney cancer found in children and accounts for nine out of every ten kidney cancer cases in kids. 

Wilms tumor usually occurs in just one kidney, however in very rare cases it can affect both. 

Symptoms include abdominal swelling, abdominal pain, blood in the urine, fever, nausea or vomiting, loss of appetite and high blood pressure. 

Treatment varies on a case-to-case basis and is based largely on the stage of the cancer, however the majority of children have to have at least part of their kidney removed in order to prevent the disease from spreading. 

Many patients also undergo chemotherapy and/or radiation to kill off cancer cells in the body. 

The family were also told the condition could be genetic and the youngster could have been born with it.

There were ‘no signs at all’ and the mass had been growing for months.

Wilms’ tumour is the most common pediatric renal cancer and is typically found in children under the age of five.

According to Cancer Research UK, around 80 children are diagnosed with it each year in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Wilms’ tumours usually only affect one kidney.

However, in fewer than 10 out of every 100 children (less than 10%), it can affect both kidneys, which is sadly the case for Reid. 

A fundraising page has been set up for the youngster in order to fund a holiday to give him something to look forward to.

In just five days it already has over £5,000 worth of donations and you can donate here.

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