A COURAGEOUS seven-year-old is winning her battle against cancer after her family were told a tumour near her heart has disappeared.

But now plucky Ragen Lonsdale must undergo revolutionary new treatment in her fight to be given the all-clear.

Ragen, of Park Avenue, Great Harwood, was struck down with tumours on her lung and kidney when she was four and they were treated successfully.

But in September last year a scan showed she had developed another in her chest near to her heart.

She underwent four more courses of chemotherapy and the family were recently given new hope when a scan showed the tumour had disappeared.

Her mother Colette said: "The doctors say Ragen will still have cancer cells in her body and if she undergoes the new treatment her chances of a full recovery will double." It involves removing Ragen's healthy bone marrow cells, giving her strong chemotherapy and blood transfusions, then replacing the marrow.

It begins on Saturday and Colette said only a few children had been treated in this way.

She said: "We've been told Ragen will have a very sore mouth and upset stomach.

"It will be the most powerful chemotherapy yet and there is a high risk of infection.

"We are a bit scared of the outcome, but at least we feel like we're coming to the end of the treatment."

Colette added: "Ragen doesn't really talk about it much. She hates the injections but she's brilliant in the way she copes.

"She is still a normal child and goes to school when she can but gets tired easily. She is just happy that when this is over her hair will grow back which she is really looking forward to.

"Our consultant is very optimistic and we've all got our fingers crossed."

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