British boy, nine, beats ultra-rare cancer after surgeons remove his liver to cut out killer cells then reinsert it – making him one of only a six to survive aggressive form of disease in world
- Saul Hayden, aged nine, has beaten one of the most aggressive forms of cancer
- The tumour had spread to his arteries, up to the heart and spread to his lungs
- Surgeons removed his liver before cutting out the cancer and putting liver back
- The operation was a success and recent scan revealed no evidence of cancer
A boy aged nine has beaten cancer after surgeons cut the cancerous cells out of his liver by taking it out of his body.
Saul Hayden, of Rudheath, Cheshire fought off stage four MRT (malignant rhabdoid tumour) in his liver, one of the aggressive forms of cancer.
Just five of the 53 people globally who have had the disease survived, the Northwich Guardian reported.
Saul Hayden, of Rudheath, Cheshire fought off stage four MRT (malignant rhabdoid tumour) in his liver, one of the aggressive forms of cancer. He was pictured above with his mother Vicki Kay-Spruce
Saul, who enjoys playing video games, began to lose his appetite last year and had stomach pains.
Saul Hayden, aged nine, has beaten cancer after surgeons cut the cancerous cells out of his liver by taking it out of his body
When he was taken to hospital by his mother Vicki Kay-Spruce, a mass was found and days later at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, it was revealed he had cancer.
His mother wrote: ‘After multiple scans and invasive biopsies we discovered Saul had a stage 4 malignant rhabdoid tumour of the liver that had already spread to his arteries, up to the heart and metasised to his lungs.
‘This is an incredibly rare and agressive type of cancer with a very poor prognosis and outlook.
‘Saul has already undergone 13 rounds of powerful chemotherapy, 11 rounds of radiotherapy, stem cell harvests, he had multiple infections and even 4 adult teeth removed at Alder Hey’.
After chemotherapy and it was revealed that his cancer had shrunk.
This meant he could have an operation in September last year at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
Surgeons took his liver out from his body and cut the cancer cells out from it, before putting it back in to his body again.
![After chemotherapy and it was revealed that his cancer had shrunk. This meant he could have an operation in September last year at Birmingham Children's Hospital, which is pictured above [File photo]](https://i1.wp.com/i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/03/08/18/25702820-8089057-image-a-9_1583693012294.jpg?resize=634%2C373&ssl=1)
After chemotherapy and it was revealed that his cancer had shrunk. This meant he could have an operation in September last year at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, which is pictured above [File photo]
They also removed an artery that was infected before making him a new one from donations.
Mother Vicki said of the miracle surgery: ‘Without the surgery there was no chance for him’.
‘They were worried he wouldn’t make it at all. I was told one in ten adults don’t survive this type of operation so it was even riskier for him.
Saul had more radiotherapy and chemotherapy to kill of any remaining cancer, and at the start of this year it was revealed there was no evidence of cancer
‘The doctors are amazed at how well he has done but still won’t tell us what the outlook is. They don’t want to give is false hope.’
Saul had more radiotherapy and chemotherapy to kill of any remaining cancer, and at the start of this year it was revealed there was no evidence of cancer.
His mother hopes he can return to school later this year and she is crowdfunding to send Saul on his dream holiday to America.
His mother wrote: ‘He has dealt with all of this with nothing but smiles and the will to fight.
‘Anything you can do to help keep him smiling and giving him the best quality of life goes a long way’.
Saul’s JustGiving page can be found here.