Lumps on head of boy, 4, is cancer so rare it has never been seen in the world
A four-year-old football fanatic diagnosed with a type of cancer so rare it has never been seen anywhere in the world is being backed by his local team to win his battle.
Little Arthur Salters-Hoult, from Newcastle, Tyneside, was told he has acute lymphoblastic leukaemia earlier this year after lumps began to appear on his head and throat.
But that wasn't the end of the issues for the tormented family, ChronicleLive reports.
After doctors at the Royal Victoria Infirmary carried out further tests they discovered Arthur had a chromosome mutation.
This means the boy is having to undergo the most intensive form of chemotherapy and he may need a bone marrow transplant in the future.
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Dad Ricky Hoult knows how brave little Arthur is (handout)But National League North Blyth Spartans - after themselves securing survival on Saturday - are right behind him and continue to send messages of support.
His dad, Ricky Hoult, and mum, Helen Salters-Hoult, have been by their son's bedside since the devastating diagnosis and are encouraging people to join the stem cell donors register.
Ricky, 30, said: "Last November we noticed a lump on his head, a little small one, and then it was getting bigger and the GP said it was a cist and would go away.
"Then it got bigger and bigger and then he started getting one on his neck. We were told it was his lymph nodes.
"We kept going to A&E because Arthur wasn't well and on the fourth visit we saw a consultant and within 90 minutes he had been diagnosed leukaemia.
Blyth Spartans won their battle on Saturday - and they're backing Arthur to win his (handout)"He underwent more tests and it took five weeks for the results to come back and that was because they hadn't seen the mutation before.
"The best scientists in the world are working on Arthur's case so he can get the best treatment possible.
"But the mutation means there is a much higher chance of relapsing at any time and it also puts him at risk of needing a bone marrow transplant.
"What we are trying to do is raise the profile of bone marrow transplants and encourage as many people as possible to join the register."
Despite being so unwell, the football fan is still cheering on his beloved Newcastle United from his hospital bed.
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Arthur was given a shirt from the club with 'You can beat this Arthur' written on the back and his family now hope to use it to raise awareness of joining the bone marrow transplant register.
Ricky said: "We are both Newcastle fans and Arthur loves the club and singing the songs. He has been watching all the matches from his hospital bed.
"Because he loves football we are trying to get as many teams as possible to be photographed with the Newcastle United shirt saying 'You can beat this Arthur' to raise awareness about bone marrow transplants.
"The Blyth Spartans have shown their support for him.
"We would love a message from the club supporting Arthur - his favourite player is Joelinton."
During Newcastle's match at St James' Park, which saw the side beat Tottenham 6-1, the Toon Army heard about Arthur's brave battle and cheered for the youngster following an announcement from the ground's compere and host, Justin Lockwood.
Despite his diagnosis, Ricky said his son has shown amazing courage.
He said: "Arthur is so courageous, brave, funny, loveable, clever and very inquisitive. He has shown us all amazing strength and lives each day to the full and is ready to take on new challenges that present daily given the nature of his condition."
Ricky has launched a fundraising appeal for Leukaemia UK which carries out research into the disease.
To donate visit here.
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