Oct 2014 Update:

Charlie had chemo every Monday for a 10 weeks intense course from June-Aug. He was only admitted to hospital twice throughout this period 1. for a viral infection and 2. for a blood transfusion. This is good going considering the consultant said the first 10 weeks we'll find ourselves in hospital more than out of it!

At present Charlie is only having chemo once a month until December, the breaks in between chemo are doing him the world of good - his bloods are back up to normal and he has colour back in his cheeks.

Come December Charlie will have chemo every week for 3 weeks and then a 3 week break - this will continue throughout 2015 until the end of his treatment.

He has an MRI scan at the end of November to see what the tumour is doing, we have been told not to panic if there isn't any change since before treatment as it sometimes needs the whole course before we notice any difference. But again Charlie is amazing and just deals with it as it comes. He's a little star...

May 2014 Update:

After Charlie having MRI scans every 6-12 months to check the growth of the tumour, the last scan in April 2014 has shown that the tumour has grown again.
The consultant has said that there are 3 options to remove it/stop it growing, 1. to operate again, 2. radiotherapy - but can be harmful to Charlie's developing brain at his age, 3. chemotherapy.
Charlie's consultant has had a meeting with the oncologists from the Royal Mardsen Hospital and have decided it isn't necessary to operate at this stage but isn't ruling out another operation.
We have had a meeting with the oncologist in May, Charlie will be having an 18 month course of chemotherapy starting mid/end of June. The consultant has said that the tumour is benign and isn't life threatening, which, we can't describe how happy we were when we heard that!
Charlie will have a port-catheter in his chest and that's how the chemo will be administered. There is a 50% chance he will loose his hair and the possible side effects are only temporary.
They will check if the chemo is working by doing MRI scans throughout the 18 months.
Charlie can still go out and mix with other kids but can't be around anyone who's not well. And at anytime if he gets a temperature we have to go straight to St. George's.
There could be a possibility that he will need this treatment again or radiotherapy in a few years depending on the results. But we'll cross that bridge if it comes to it.
We are feeling quite positive about it all and again Charlie hasn't got a care in the world! The consultant has said that Charlie is in the best position considering the situation. #TeamCharlie

Where it all began…

Charlie Cox was diagnosed with an Oligoastrocytoma grade 2 brain tumour in February 2012 when he was just 8 months old. On 3rd May 2012, at 11 months old, Charlie had an operation at St. George’s Hospital, Tooting, to remove the tumour that was in the right hippocampus region. After 8 hours in surgery, he was moved to intensive care and the consultant confirmed that the operation went very well.  Charlie has since had his post-operation check up and the doctors have given him the all clear for a year, when he will have to return to have another MRI check up. He continues to be on anti-seizure medicine and will do for the foreseeable future.

Charlie’s strength and smile throughout the whole thing inspired the creation of Team Charlie Cox.

Sadly, research into Brain Tumours is woefully underfunded, and despite targeting a fundraising total of 7 million pound per year, receives less than 1% of Cancer Research funding. 

Every £2740 that we raise for Brain Tumour Research sponsors a day of research at the dedicated brain tumour research centre at the University of Portsmouth and this is recognised by a tile on the Wall of Hope at the University and a commemorative plaque.

More information is available here: http://www.braintumourresearch.org/sponsor-a-day

Events we’ve arranged so far include: Three Peaks Challenge, Winter Tough Guy, Hellrunner, Nike Half Marathon, FIFA 13 tournament and we hope to arrange at least two more events to help us reach our target of 15k. We also held a charity fundraiser and raised over 2.5k for St. George’s Hospital.

You can follow our adventure on twitter: @teamcharliecox or on Facebook www.facebook.com/teamcharliecox

If anyone is willing to help us raise money and join our team then please email us at teamcharliecox@hotmail.co.uk 

The help and support we’ve received since we started this is astounding. From the anonymous donators to the people actually giving up their time and money to take part in events we’re arranging. 

We can’t thank you all enough.

“Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies…”

#teamcharlie