I thought my little boy, 7, had a wobbly tooth until his cheek swelled up like a tennis ball
James Kreyling, 40, and his wife Charlotte, 47, inspected their son's mouth in May this year and realised it wasn't a baby tooth bothering him.
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In fact, the culprit was an adult tooth at the back of Freddie's mouth
The next morning, the parents, from Hadleigh, Essex, noticed swelling inside their son's mouth.
They immediately took him to the dentist, who X-rayed his teeth and prescribed antibiotics.
When things didn't improve, James took Freddie back to the dentist, who said his mouth was 'very abnormal'.
After a month of tests and antibiotics, during which time his jaw 'swelled like a tennis ball', Freddie was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma – an aggressive but treatable blood cancer.
Sporty Freddie has been undergoing chemotherapy treatment and his parents hope he will be 'fighting fit' by autumn.
Now they're urging other parents to 'listen to your child'.
Charlotte added: 'Listen to your gut and advocate fiercely for your child, even when it's uncomfortable.
'Once things start moving, hold on to hope – children are stronger than you think, and you are too.'
After Freddie's second visit to the dentist, his parents were told to go to Broomfield Hospital, where they were given stronger antibiotics and eventually a biopsy was taken.
Two signs of cancer that could be mistaken for cold weather symptoms - and when to see a GP
'They removed his adult tooth because there was a risk of him swallowing it and suffocating,' James said.
After the biopsy results, Freddie was referred to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, where he received his diagnosis.
According to Lymphoma Action, Burkitt lymphoma is a rare and aggressive form of blood cancer that affects around 250 people a year in the UK.
Most children who are treated for Burkitt lymphoma go on to make a full recovery.
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Symptoms of Burkitt lymphoma usually develop quickly and they can start or get worse in just a few days.
It can cause lumps in the neck, armpit or groin, as well as tummy pain, stomach swelling, nausea and diarrhoea.
'Over the month or so between seeing the first dentist and actually being diagnosed, the right side of [Freddie's] face swelled like a tennis ball,' James recalled.
'It was like a hamster's cheek.
'Nothing helped bring that swelling down, which we now know was the tumour.'
James said Freddie did not find the lump on his jaw particularly painful.
'It was a bit uncomfortable if you pressed, and he was having to eat on the other side of his mouth because he couldn't chew,' he added.
Freddie started the first of four rounds of chemotherapy treatment the day after his diagnosis, with a consultant reassuring James they had caught the cancer 'early-ish'.
'In my mind, I took that as a positive,' James said.
What is Burkitt lymphoma?
Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that develops when white blood cells called lymphocytes grow out of control.
Lymphocytes are part of your immune system. They travel around your body in your lymphatic system, helping you fight infections.
Burkitt lymphoma affects one type of lymphocyte called B lymphocytes (B cells).
It commonly develops in the tummy area.
This can cause symptoms such as:
Tummy pain
Swelling of your tummy caused by a build-up of fluid (ascites)
feeling sick
Diarrhoea
BL may also cause painless swellings in the neck, armpit or groin.
These are caused by lymphoma cells building up in the lymph nodes, which makes them bigger.
Often lymph nodes in more than one part of the body are affected.
The symptoms of Burkitt lymphoma can often develop very quickly.
Now halfway through his treatment, James said the tumour has reduced in size by around 60 per cent.
James added: 'The first round was tough because he developed mouth ulcers.
'It's painful and obviously it limited his eating and drinking.
'He's had a feeding tube inserted, so if he's not able to eat or he hasn't gotten up to his suggested daily intake, then we can just top him up with that.'
Freddie is normally 'full of beans' and enjoys playing rugby, tennis and golf and James hopes to get him back on the rugby pitch soon.
Before his diagnosis, he was also learning the Chinese martial art Wing Chun and attending weekly Beaver Scouts sessions.
James praised Great Ormond Street Hospital for the activities they run to keep the children entertained, saying Freddie 'would've gone stir crazy' otherwise.
He also thanked the charities Gold Geese, Cyclists Fighting Cancer and Young Lives vs Cancer for their support.
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'Keeping spirits up'
Some of James and Charlotte's colleagues in in the East of England Ambulance Service are undertaking a 10,000ft charity skydive this summer in Freddie's name, in order to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital.
The fundraiser has now reached over £5,000.
'My wife worked for the ambulance service for 17 years, and at the end of September I'll have done my 17th year,' James said.
'We're never going to be able to repay our friends and family for the amount of love and support that they've shown us.'
James advised parents going through similar ordeals that they 'have just got to remain positive for the child' because they 'respond off positivity'.
'You fear the worst because you hear that cancer word,' he explained.
'It's quite upsetting because it's your child; your flesh and blood.
'But you just have to always have a goal – don't look too far forward.
'We use reward charts to make sure he gets through each day.'
Whenever Freddie is polite to nurses, drinks enough water or takes his medication, he earns points towards a reward like a cuddly toy or a trip to the cinema.
James said: 'It's so he can have something to look forward to that keeps his spirits up.
'Keeping him positive is half the battle, really.'
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