A toddler’s shock cancer diagnosis has left a Bassetlaw family reeling in shock.

Following months of concern over her 18-month old son's repeated illnesses, his family has been told that little Tommy has rhabdomyosarcoma, an aggressive, malignant tumour above his bladder and bowels.

Following an operation last week, he now faces chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and further surgery.

Speaking from accommodation at Sheffield Children's Hospital, where Tommy is now being treated, mum Ksenia Wright, 30, said her baby needed immediate surgery to save his kidneys, and now has colostomy bags, with tubes coming out of his back, and is due to start chemotherapy on Monday, if he is fit.

Tommy is currently in Sheffield Children's Hospital and is due to start chemotherapy treatment next week.

placeholder image — Tommy is currently in Sheffield Children's Hospital and is due to start chemotherapy treatment next week.

Sobbing with emotion, she said: "They can't touch the tumour until they shrink it. It's a large one, eight centimetres by 11. The one thing that's keeping me going is the hope that they can get him through this, as they believe they can. They are wonderful here."

Before a blood test at Bassetlaw Hospital revealed Tommy's kidneys were failing, Ksenia was in desperation as GPs and doctors at A&E sent her away repeatedly, despite her being sure her son was in constant pain.

A scan at Sheffield, for which Tommy had to lie on his mum because of his tiny size, revealed the tumour. Ksenia said: "When they did the ultrasound their faces dropped...they were both clearly shocked and I just started crying.

"He had a blood transfusion yesterday. They believe the cancer is localised at present. But it's going to be a long road to recovery and is likely he'll be left infertile due to the cancer.

A fundraising appeal has been launched for 18-months old Tommy, of Bircotes.

"I wish I had been listened to the multiple times I took him to be checked. This may not have been so serious if treated sooner."

Ksenia currently has daughter Frankie, six, with her at Sheffield, while partner Dave has had to return to work, and is back at home with Tyler, 15, and Jensen, nine.

"The boys are my stepsons and already lost their mum in 2019. I'm worried about them too," added Ksenia.

The family live in Bircotes, where Tommy had attended Rainbows Day Nursery. Staff there had agreed with his mum that the little boy's health had seemed to deteriorate.

Tommy's rare form of cancer is thought to be localised but has affected his kidneys.

"Life has changed for us in recent weeks," said Ksenia, who has had to stop working as a legal assistant to be with her son.

"Here they are observing Tommy every three hours, which makes me feel safer. We are struggling with all this but so grateful for the help."

A big fundraising drive has been launched to help the family by friend Gemma Drysdale, who has set up a donation page.

Gemma said the funds ‘will help to relieve some of the financial burden with the cost of hospital parking, fuel, daily expenses etc during this heartbreaking time'.

To donate to help Tommy and his family, visit: https://tinyurl.com/4x3bwadc