![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/heartache-mischievous-boy-died-tooth-853622401.jpg\")
\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/heartache-mischievous-boy-died-tooth-853622392.jpg\")
<\/p>\nTHE FAMILY of a \u201cmischievous\u201d boy have revealed how he tragically lost his life to a rare cancer.<\/p>\n
Ethan Adams, of South Shields, died at the age of just nine from rhabdomyosarcoma \u2014 after doctors initially thought he was suffering a tooth infection.<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
His mum Tracey said he \u201cgot upset\u201d at the time and \u201cthought it was his fault because he hadn't been brushing his teeth.<\/p>\n
He had a lump in his mouth and dentists thought he had an abscess from an infected tooth.<\/p>\n
When the lump didn\u2019t reduce, he was taken to Sunderland hospital where scans revealed the tumours in his brain and spine in November 2020.<\/p>\n
Ethan\u2019s dad Mark told the BBC: \u201cOur world just crashed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rhabdomyosarcoma affects around 55 children in Britain each year.<\/p>\n It causes cancer cells to form in muscle tissue and early signs include a lump or swelling that keeps getting bigger.<\/p>\n Lumps can appear in the head, neck, genitals, arms, legs, chest or belly.<\/p>\n Certain genetic diseases including Li-Fraumeni syndrome and Costello syndrome can increase the risk.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Treatment depends on what stage a child\u2019s disease is at, based on the size of the tumour, where it is in the body and whether it has spread to other parts.<\/p>\n Ethan\u2019s scans revealed the aggressive tumours were not only in his brain and spine, but races were also in his lungs and bone marrow.<\/p>\n He was given chemotherapy and radiotherapy but tragically died just nine months after he was diagnosed.<\/p>\n Mark said he thought it was \u201cembarrassing\u201d the drugs used in his treatment were made in the 1960s and said more research is desperately needed.<\/p>\n Both Mark and Tracey have joined campaign group Alice\u2019s Arc, which is seeking a cure for the condition.<\/p>\n Mark said: \u201cWe don't want other families to go through what we have had to go through, it's horrific.\u201d<\/p>\n Ethan\u2019s story was shared in parliament by Labour\u2019s MP for South Shields Emma Lewell-Buck this week, who described him as a \u201cmischievous and funny kid with a big heart\u201d.<\/p>\n She said spending on childhood cancer research is \u201cnowhere near enough\u201d and improving treatments is \u201cimperative\u201d.<\/p>\n Health minister Will Quince is due to meet Mark and Tracey, after saying the Government \u201cstands with\u201d those affected by the devastating disease.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/VP-GRAPHIC-TONGUE-COMP-v3-1.jpg\")
<\/picture>OPEN WIDE<\/span><\/p>\nThe 5 things your tongue reveals about your health – from cancer to stroke risk<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/touching-neck-838539956-3.jpg\")
<\/picture>LOO KNEW? <\/span><\/p>\nThe sign of oesophageal cancer you might spot in your poo – and 9 other symptoms<\/h3>\n
Most read in Health<\/h2>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/newspress-collage-24461655-1697748052698.jpg\")
<\/picture>LESS STOUT <\/span><\/p>\nBrewers ‘have made world\u2019s healthiest beer’ & you’ll be surprised by calories<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/close-up-photo-unrecognizable-man-832379281-1.jpg\")
<\/picture>HARD LUCK <\/span><\/p>\nBlokes left with embarrassing side effect after popping Viagra<\/h3>\n
<\/picture>LOO KNEW? <\/span><\/p>\nThe sign of oesophageal cancer you might spot in your poo – and 9 other symptoms<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/NINTCHDBPICT000853386816.jpg\")
<\/picture>NOT CHILL <\/span><\/p>\nAre you cranky, stressed or always tired? You could have \u2018winter period fatigue\u2019<\/h3>\n
Read More on The Sun<\/h2>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/newspress-collage-24459651-1697732554274.jpg\")
<\/picture>![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/as-fab-shaving-legs.jpg\")
<\/picture>![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/heartache-mischievous-boy-died-tooth-853622417.jpg\")