MP's son given cancer all-clear

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The three-year-old son of Truro and St Austell MP Matthew Taylor has been given a provisional "all-clear" in his battle with cancer, the MP says.

Arthur Taylor has had eight months of treatment and underwent a major operation two weeks ago for the tumour found at the base of his spine.

Secondary lung tumours have gone and another tumour on his spine is also expected to be gone at his next scan.

It means he will be out of hospital to celebrate Christmas.

We are so grateful to the NHS, and we are so proud of Arthur Matthew and Vicky Taylor

Arthur Taylor was being treated at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Vicky and Matthew Taylor said: "The last eight months have seemed an eternity of worry, and especially the last two weeks.

"The operation brought a real risk of disabling Arthur, and we could not know if the chemotherapy had been successful until the tumour was analysed.

"But it has all proved better than even the doctors hoped. We are so grateful to the NHS, and we are so proud of Arthur."

Although the secondary tumour on his spine is still to be scanned, Mr Taylor said doctors fully expected that to be gone too, with only slight damage to the vertebrae.

When they received the news, Mr Taylor said Arthur asked why they had burst into tears.

He said: "All we could say was we were so happy it was Christmas.

"In the words of the surgeon, 'This is as good as it gets'. Arthur won't have the final all clear for many years yet, and we know we'll be seeing the inside of a hospital many more times, starting in January with more scans and tests.

"But there is no sign of active cancer now, and he's got every chance it will stay that way."

Mr Taylor said two years ago that after the birth of Arthur he would not be standing at the next general election to avoid being away from the family once his children started school.

He said that his priority was to be a "great dad" to Arthur and his younger son, Jacob.