Lucas, a 12-year-old boy from near Brussels, has become the first child in the world to overcome an aggressive and incurable pediatric cancer. Diagnosed with an infiltrating brain stem glioma at the age of 6, Lucas defied the odds and is now cancer-free.
Lucas’s remarkable journey began when an intern neurologist referred his family to the Gustave-Roussy Hospital in Villejuif, where a clinical trial called Biomede was taking place. “We were full of hope, but the doctors were clear. They gave us the statistics, which were not good at all,” recalled Lucas’s father.
Despite the grim prognosis, Lucas’s body gradually eliminated the disease over the course of five years. In an exceptional case, all signs remained positive. This led to a crucial decision: should the young boy continue to take powerful medications on a daily basis? After discussions with the family and specialists, it was agreed to end the treatment protocol.
Nearly a year later, there is no trace of the cancer. Lucas’s doctor explained that they believe he had a unique form of the disease and now they need to understand why and how this happened in order to potentially replicate it in other patients. The hope is that Lucas’s experience can pave the way for new medical advancements.
The triumph of Lucas’s story serves as a beacon of hope for all those fighting pediatric cancer. His family is grateful for the outcome but also hopes that his case can help others in similar situations. As his father expressed, “We would be so happy if what happened to Lucas can be useful and not just an exception.”
Sources:
– Le Parisien