Visits to the doctor and a trip to A&E

In September 1995, Max had a fall at school. Quite a while later, I noticed a really dark bruise on his perineum.

We took Max to the GP, and were told it was just a bruise from the fall. Max became increasingly agitated as the swelling continued, causing severe itching as the skin stretched. He was finding it difficult to sleep and sitting on the carpet at school became impossible – something didn’t seem right.

After several more visits to the doctor, my husband and I insisted something more be done. We were sent to A&E at our local hospital.

We saw a paediatrician there, who found a lump in his testicle. Somehow this information was not passed on to another doctor, who told us to go home, for Max to take Piriton for the itching and to sit on ice for the swelling. In disbelief we phoned The Royal Marsden, who organised for Max to see a specialist. From listening carefully to our story and examining Max, he knew something wasn’t right. They took some blood samples.

Max passed away on 22 January 1997, aged eight

We had told Max that he was dying – he was a really bright child, and we felt he would understand. We are a very open family and we didn’t want to hide it from him or his sister Anna, who was five at the time. I struggled with this at the time and still do, but believe in my heart of hearts, it was the right thing to do.

Max was just amazing. He said he was sad but we used humour and positive thinking to get through this difficult time.

Funding research into the causes of childhood cancer is so important. I hope that the work Children with Cancer UK fund may prevent other children from being dealt this cruel double blow of a second cancer.