Derbyshire teen's tooth ache turned out to be rare blood cancer that could have 'killed him in three weeks'
Doctors told him that if he hadn't visited the hospital when he did he would have only had three weeks to live
A Derbyshire teenager who went to the dentist suffering from toothache was diagnosed with life-threatening blood cancer which could have killed him in weeks.
Ethan Harrison, 19, booked a dental appointment after complaining both his top and bottom right wisdom teeth were hurting in May this year.
He believed it was a tooth infection and he might just need the teeth removing but was instead told to see his GP urgently after the dentist noticed a swollen lymph node.
After a GP conducted blood tests, Ethan was rushed to Chesterfield Royal Hospital where he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia - a rare type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow.
Doctors told him that if he hadn't visited the hospital when he did - four days after his dentist appointment - he would have only had three weeks to live.
Ethan, of South Wingfield, Derbyshire, is currently too ill to speak, but his mum, Roxy Bond, 37, say the family feels "incredibly lucky" they found the cancer when they did.
She said: “He had been suffering with a toothache for the past month before we went to the dentist.
"He’d been having a few different symptoms, like shortness of breath, a fever and a swollen lymph node the size of a golf ball on the left side of his neck which formed whilst he was on holiday in Cyprus the week before.
"We just put it all down to the tooth thinking it might be infected, but then the dentist saw the swollen lymph node and said he needed to be looked at by a doctor.
“We went to the GP, they did a blood test and the results came back 12 hours later.
"They said his levels were all over the place and we were told we needed to get to A&E immediately.
“We were rushed through at the hospital because the doctors and nurses already knew it was probably leukaemia.
"When the diagnosis came it was very surreal and just very, very unexpected.
“The team at the hospital said if he hadn’t come in he would have only had a few weeks to live.
"It felt like a story you’d hear about someone else, not your son.”
Roxy said her son started chemotherapy treatment last week adding that his recovery will be a "long process" but revealed the cancer is "very curable".
Ethan, who is a forklift driver, has been in hospital since May 17 and his friends have started crowdfunding to raise money for his recovery.
She said: "It could be about a year before Ethan returns to full health, depending on how his body reacts and he’ll be in the hospital more than he’s home during that time.
“We’re expecting four rounds of chemotherapy.
"He started the first one last week, he’ll be in for a month, being treated twice a day with two different drugs.
“He’s never been in a hospital before and now he’s having bone marrow biopsies, PICC lines inserted and constant blood tests.
"He’s reacted so far with a sense of humour, nothing’s phased him.
“All he’ll say is, ‘What an inconvenience'.
"We’re a very positive family and he’s been brilliant. I’m so proud of how he’s handling it.”
Ethan, a former agriculture college student, has had to take sick leave from his job at Lockwood Haulage near Ambergate, Derbyshire.
Roxy says the diagnosis has also upended family life, with the business consultant delaying the start of a new job to stay at the hospital.
She said: “I’ll be there day and night.
"As horrible as the situation is, Ethan and I enjoy spending time together.
"We’re watching films, colouring and keeping busy – there’s always another doctor or nurse to talk to.”
Back home husband Chris, 52, is holding the fort with Ethan’s siblings William, 18, and Gracie, 12.
Roxy said: “It’s had a ripple effect on everything but I don’t think anyone can really believe it yet.
"Cancer’s never been a thing in our family.
"It has shown how much support we have around us though. Everyone has been super shocked but offering so much help.”
Ethan’s friends who have set up a fundraising campaign have so far managed to raise almost £3,500 within a week.
Friend Livinia Wragg said: “Despite everything that has been thrown at him, Ethan continues to amaze us every single day
“Anyone who knows him will know exactly the kind of person he is - kind, caring, funny, witty and unbelievably generous.
"Somehow, even through all of this, he is still managing to stay positive and keep us smiling.”
Anyone wishing to donate to the GoFundMe can do so at: gofundme.com/f/ethans-journey-through-leukaemia