Cancer (disease)

A TEENAGE goalkeeper’s football dreams were shattered after a twinge in his knee turned out to be bone cancer – leaving him needing an amputation.Two years ago, Manchester United fan Jake Last was playing for Burnley’s Under-14s and earned the nickname ‘The Cat’ for his agility.Teenage goalkeeper Jake Last is having his leg amputatedWhat he thought was a twinge in the knee turned out to be cancerNow the 15-year-old is preparing to have his right leg amputated next month after the cancer progressed despite bouts of chemotherapy and surgery.Jake, from Chadderton, Greater Manchester, is already dreaming of one day playing for a top amputee team – and maybe even England.His father, John, 54, said: “I don’t think you will ever get Jake to not be involved in football. “He is an amazing lad. He has been unbelievable. It is strange to say, but he lives as if he has never had the disease. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”The treatment (chemotherapy) has been brutal. But he knows it is having an effect on the cancer and helping get rid of it.”Jake’s grit has impressed both footballing halves of Manchester.Kobbie Mainoo – the United star who shone in the weekend’s FA Cup final, has sent him a video message.In the clip, Kobbie said: “Hi Jake, it’s Kobbie. I’m sorry to hear everything you are going through. Most read in Football”Stay strong and I hope everything goes well with the surgery.”A City-supporting friend of the family donated a framed, signed shirt worn by Ederson, which was auctioned off to raise hundreds of pounds to help Jake’s family through tough times.Man Utd fans gush ‘just a top guy’ as they spot Kobbie Mainoo’s dressing room gesture to Amad DialloJohn said: “Both United and Blues friends of the family have been wonderful in the support they have given to us.”The proud dad recalled how a twinge in Jake’s knee was the start of what has been a long arduous road.John said: “He was playing for Burnley U-14s and had suffered an ankle injury and was on crutches for six weeks.”We thought the pain in his knee was just because he had been on crutches so long.”But Jake eventually ended up in hospital for an X-ray. Damaged tendons were suspected – but further tests in March 2022 revealed the shattering truth that it was actually osteosarcoma.He then had 16 weeks of chemotherapy at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and underwent surgery in Birmingham to replace his knee, tibia and femur with titanium implants.Jake required a further 14 weeks of chemotherapy back in Manchester to ‘mop up’ the remaining cancerous cells. He rang the bell in Ward 86 in May of last year, as there was no sign of the cancer, and has since had gruelling sessions of physiotherapy and hydrotherapy to enable him to walk again.But an MRI scan in October of last year, to check on his progress, found that the cancer had returned in his hip.Hopefully one day Jake can get in the England amputee team set-upJake Last’s dad JohnJohn said: “We were devastated as we really thought he had beat this horrible disease. “So he started a different type of chemotherapy in February of this year, of which there are six sessions, he has one more to go which is from June 4 to June 9.”He had an MRI scan after the second lot of chemotherapy and it was found that the chemotherapy was attacking the tumour and breaking it down. “It also showed that there was a small cancerous tumour in his lung and a suspected tumour in his spine but the tumour in his lung had not grown since his first scan so that is good news.”After his most recent scan, the radiologist had confirmed that the issue in Jake’s back is now not cancerous. He will have a final scan next month before surgery.John said: “Jake has decided he will be more able bodied if they remove his right leg at the hip. The higher we go the less chance there is of the cancer returning.”He had already said to the doctors after being diagnosed, ‘Why don’t you just take my leg off?’ “But they rightly said they had to try and save his limb. Now it has come back in his hip he struggles to walk without his crutches.”FAMILY HEARTACHE Astonishingly, before the cancer was discovered in his hip Jake had started football training again with grassroots side Droylsden Youth Centre. Ahead of joining Burnley, the youngster had played for Chadderton Park, Moston Tigers, and Avro.John said: “He was invited to watch the England amputee team play in Partington which was brilliant. “Around here there are only Manchester City and Everton that have amputee teams. He can hopefully go training with one of them and one day get in the England set-up.”Chelsea Ashworth, who has set up a GoFundMe page to support Jake’s family, said: “Jake is an absolutely incredible inspiration and has endured so much over the last few years and still has a long road to recovery.”Jake is the second child of John and his wife, Tracy. John added: “In 2007 we had a daughter, Olivia, who died shortly after her birth. “Jake was born in 2008 and I guess the loss of Olivia was why he was born so soon after. READ MORE SUN STORIES”He still talks of his sister – and I am sure if she was here she would be saying, ‘I’m right behind you.'”Manchester United’s FA Cup hero Kobbie Mainoo sent a message of supportCredit: PAThe cancer returned in his hip prompting the life-changing decisionThe youngster was on the books of Burnley’s academyJake’s older sister died shortly after birth More

PRINCE William and Prince George have been cheering on Aston Villa’s opening goal in their first public appearance since Kate shared her cancer diagnosis.The father and son duo were seen celebrating Unai Emery’s side after Ollie Watkins scored the first goal in their clash against Lille at Villa Park tonight.The duo were in good spirits enjoying some father-and-son bonding timeCredit: GettyThe royals watched intensely from their seatsCredit: GettyThe pair were seen chatting and laughing togetherCredit: XWilliam joked it would have been better if the match ended 2-0Credit: GettyPrince William and Prince George have been cheering on Aston VillaCredit: XPrince George stepped out in his claret and blue Aston Villa scarf and beamed as he stood beside his proud dad.The 10-year-old has followed in Prince William’s footsteps and is a keen Aston Villa fan.The pair chatted and laughed with each other as they watched the match intensely from their seats.Chief sports writer of the Sunday People, Neil Moxley, asked William: “Your Highness – after the Mostar game we saw you and you said 1-0 was a good result in Europe. How was this?” “Two-nil would have been better,” joked the Prince.“Is George now part of the pride?,” asked Mr Moxley.“Oh yes, he’s loving it,” replied the smiling father.It comes after William enjoyed a “low-key” pub visit with mum-in-law Carole Middleton at the weekend.Most read in FootballThe Prince of Wales was reportedly seen popping into a pub in Norfolk during the family’s Easter break at Anmer Hall.It comes after Princess Kate revealed her cancer announcement in a touching video message last month.The royal mum-of-three, 42, shared the “huge shock” but vowed she is “getting stronger every day” and chose to delay releasing the information to protect her children.Prince George, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five, had already broken up from school and were with their parents when the video was posted.Sun editor Victoria Newton told BBC1’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg: “It was actually, I understand, that the Princess made the decision two weeks ago that she was going to do this public statement.”The key thing for her as a mother, the priority was protecting those three children.INGRID SEWARD: Prince William is a pillar of strength for KateSTEADFAST when his family needed him, William has proved himself as a man and future monarch of strength and compassion.
While he might not have been present during Kate’s courageous video address on Friday — make no mistake, he has been by her side every step of the way.
William has stepped up with school run duties and provided a “great source of comfort and reassurance” to his wife.
But he has also been a comforting and reassuring presence for the public.
From leading members of the Royal Family at the Commonwealth Day Service to enjoying cheerful banter with youngsters on a youth centre visit, he hasn’t put a foot wrong.
Just this week he visited Sheffield to highlight his Homewards project to end homelessness in the UK.
Even then there were few chinks in his facade — but Kate was clearly on his mind.
“She needs to be sat here to hear this,” he smiled, when the discussion turned to the challenges of young families.
But ultimately he is only human.
To have your father and your wife diagnosed with cancer within such quick succession is heart-shattering.
It’s a remarkable insight into the character of this young man that he has been so incredibly brave.
Theirs is a very private turmoil which has been brought into the public arena by nature of their roles as future King and Queen.
William must feel the weight of enormous responsibility, both personally and for the monarchy, of which he is now the public face.
But he knows his most important role is that of dad and husband.
He will make that his priority.
This is a distinct difference from the ways of the past, where your royal role came before the role of spouse and parent.
Think back to when the Queen was young.
WILLS’ PRIORITY
It was a man’s world then — and she was forced to abandon her children in a way that William is determined not to.
William and Kate waited until the school term was over and their children were home before making their public announcement.
They needed to be prepared.
In this, they will have had the wholehearted support of Charles — who knows what it feels like to be brought up by nannies.
William was also acutely aware of the lack of his own father’s presence in his life, especially when things went wrong.
In 1991, he was accidentally hit over the head with a golf club when he was at school and Diana was having lunch in her favourite restaurant San Lorenzo.
The call came through that William had been bashed on the head and they thought he might die so it was very serious.
Both Charles and Diana rushed down to Ludgrove.
William was taken to the Royal Berkshire Hospital and then to Great Ormond Street Hospital and Diana went with him.
But ever a man of duty, Charles prioritised his engagements.
William is determined to do things differently.

“She didn’t want them going to school, being asked even more than they already were.”Husband William has been a pillar of support for Kate amid the shocking news. He took a step back from royal duties to stay by his wife’s side and keep everything as normal as possible for the children.King Charles has also rallied around his daughter-in-law as someone who can understand what she’s going through following his own cancer diagnosis.Meanwhile, Queen Camilla too is said to be regularly checking in with the princess.Camilla has also been Charles’ “rock” following his diagnosis and wants to be as supportive for Kate.The Queen has continued to carry out all of her royal duties and attended many events by herself after urging Charles to slow down.Meanwhile, Charles was recently spotted jetting to Scotland for a quick break before he returns to public life after more cancer treatment.READ MORE SUN STORIESHis Majesty, 75, carried a suit bag and official government papers as he and Queen Camilla disembarked their private plane.Prince William and 10-year-old George are avid Aston Villa fansCredit: XThe dad-of-three told how his son is loving watching fixtures with himCredit: GettyPrincess Kate shared the shocking news in an emotional video message last monthCredit: BBC STUDIOSPrince William and Princess Kate have always prioritised their childrenCredit: Getty More