The Putney couple felt an 'overwhelming wish' to take on his cancer from him


Nick Clegg and Miriam Gonzalez Durantez on ITV’s Lorraine show

Former Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and his wife Miriam on Wednesday (13 September) spoke out for the first time about their son’s diagnosis with blood cancer.

Speaking on ITV’s Lorraine show, they told how their eldest son Antonio, now 15, was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma last year, after finding a small, painless lump in his neck. An ultrasound scan and biopsy revealed stage 2 lymphoma, and Antonio was treated with four monthly cycles of chemotherapy, a course of heavy steroids, and a barrage of medication.



The couple, speaking ahead of the launch of a major report (pictured above), by blood cancer research charity Bloodwise, said that their first reaction to their son’s diagnosis was an “overwhelming wish” to take the cancer away from Antonio and take it on themselves. In their written preface to the Bloodwise report, entitled Childhood blood cancer; the quest for a kinder cure, they say that Antonio was taking up to 20 tablets per day, and that his treatment resulted in complete hair loss, vomiting and extreme fatigue.

Yet these severe side effects experienced by Antonio are by no means unusual, and the Bloodwise report highlights the urgent need for more research to find better, less toxic treatments for children. Blood cancer is the most common cancer among children and young people, and over 1,100 under-24s are diagnosed every year in the UK, usually with either acute lymphoblastic leukaemia or Hodgkin lymphoma.

Current childhood blood cancer treatment is brutal, can last for years, and in addition to hair loss, vomiting, and fatigue can result in extended periods away from school, isolation, infertility, and an increased risk of further cancer in adulthood.

Dr Alasdair Rankin, director of research at Bloodwise adds: “The reality is that one in five children diagnosed with the most common type of leukaemia still do not survive, and that those who do often experience devastating side effects both during and after treatment. This is simply not good enough. We need to save every child’s life, make the treatment process much kinder and give them the life they would have had without cancer. Only by funding more research into better treatments will we be able to finish the job that has been started and give children the best possible cancer treatment.”

September 14, 2017