Jacob's family have decided to continue fundraising in Jacob's name, as his legacy, in order to support research into his cancer, rhabdomyosarcoma.
Jacob was diagnosed with pelvic embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma in March 2018 at just 16 months old. He undertook 9 courses of chemotherapy at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital (RMCH) and 28 sessions of radiotherapy treatment at The Christie Hospital over the summer - and whilst this combination halted the growth of his tumour it unfortunately didn't shrink it.
In October 2018 Jacob began six months of maintenance chemotherapy but in January 2019 an MRI scan confirmed that his tumour was growing. He then started a new chemotherapy regime but after two cycles that clearly wasn't working either.
In March 2019 he started a fully-funded clinical trial at RMCH, consisting of up to 12 x 3-week cycles of chemo (week one) and a trial drug (weeks two and three). After an initial reduction of the tumour, a scan after cycle 10 confirmed it had re-grown, requiring us to leave the trial in mid-October 2019.
Some 3-4 weeks later Jacob began a new trial but by then his condition had significantly deteriorated. He sadly passed away in the early hours of 25th November, aged just 3 years and 1 month.
We miss him tremendously.
Throughout almost two years of debilitating treatment, Jacob was incredibly brave and always smiling. It’s his strength and courage that has inspired us to continue the battle against childhood cancer. By setting up this fund in his name, we hope to enable further research into rhabdomyosarcoma and the development of more successful and less debilitating treatments. If just one child's life is improved, extended or saved then that's progress.
Please support us if you can, thank you.
Jacob Luke Willett - 21/10/2016 - 25/11/2019
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Research projects funded
A living review of new treatments for children and young people with relapsed and refractory rhabdomyosarcoma
Novel models and new treatments for relapsed rhabdomyosarcoma patients
Understanding treatment decision making processes in families where a child or young person has relapsed or refractory rhabdomyosarcoma
A molecular approach to predict recurrence or spread of cancer that will lead to improving outcomes for children with rhabdomyosarcoma
Learning to predict high-risk rhabdomyosarcoma at diagnosis to improve outcomes for children and young people
Investigating the shape of fusion genes in rhabdomyosarcoma
Fundraising pages
Text CCLGJACOB to 70085 to donate £5.
CCLG will receive 100% of your donation. You may also be charged for one text message at your network’s standard or charity rate.
You can make a donation or pay in funds raised by cheque, payable to CCLG, to CCLG, Century House, 24 De Montfort Street, Leicester LE1 7GB. Please ensure you make it clear that the donation is for Jacob's Join so that your donation is allocated to the correct fund.
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