Katie heads to Oklahoma for tumour treatment

PASSPORT to proton therapy . . . Katie McGann and her mum Marie headed to America today to start Katie’s treatment for a brain tumour

AN 11-year-old girl was today flying to America to undergo revolutionary treatment for an inoperable brain tumour.

Katie McGann was told a benign tumour in her brain had become malignant and would need specialist treatment. Its position made it inoperable, and doctors decided the best treatment would be proton therapy - the latest, highly accurate form of radiation treatment not yet generally available in the UK.

Katie, her mum Marie (37) and her 14-year-old brother Christopher will fly to Oklahoma City for nine weeks, which will include six weeks of NHS-funded treatment.

Marie, a HR worker in the NHS, said: “Katie is such a brave little girl. She found it hard when we were told the tumour had turned malignant as she’s always been told not to worry about it.

“She is so strong, I don’t think I’d have been able to handle it as well as she has at such a young age.

“I am so proud of her.”

As a baby Katie suffered a build up of fluid on the brain and has had several operations to deal with the condition. Her family was then dealt another shock when the benign tumour was discovered.

The family praised Katie’s school, St Edward’s RC Primary School in Lees, for its support in helping to raise money for the trip.