BORN SURVIVOR; Surgical first gives tot chance to beat tumour.

Byline: BY ADRIAN SHAW 

A TWO-week-old girl is believed to be the youngest person to have groundbreaking treatment to save her from a brain tumour.

Madison Quartarone was born with the large growth, which, left untreated, would have killed her within weeks.

Doctors at London's Great Ormond Street hospital performed the procedure, known as embolisation, which starves the tumour of blood by injecting arteries with glue.

Now, six weeks on, Madison is fighting fit and back at home with her family.

Neuro-surgeon Dominic Thompson said: "I'm not aware of anyone as young as Madison having this treatment and if successful it could become ground-breaking." But the treatment, which normally requires additional surgery in cancer cases, carries huge risks because the blood supply to the brain could also be cut off.

Dr Thompson added: "Madison isn't out of the woods yet but she does look remarkably well. It's been a hard time for the family.

Embolisation is quite common but there are unique aspects in her case and we're hoping the procedure will be enough for her not to need a further operation.

"To be born with such a large tumour is very unusual as only a small percentage present themselves in the first month of life.

Mum Charlene, of Bedford, said: "We're so pleased she's home but we're very tired. She's stable at the moment and is feeding well."

Grandad Ian Chandler said: "The last scans showed the tumour had shrunk a lot so hopefully everything will be OK.

"It's been a stressful time for us having to deal with the possibility we might lose her."

CAPTION(S):

OPERATION Tumour victim Madison with mum Charlene; RECOVERING Madison after op