Gyles Brandreth has revealed that doctors initially dismissed concerns about his grandson Kitt, who was later diagnosed with a rare childhood cancer. The This Morning star shared the story during an appearance on the Experience Is Everything with Saga podcast, where he spoke with Lorraine Kelly.
Initial Concerns Dismissed
Kitt, who is the son of Brandreth's daughter Saethryd and her husband Mark, was just 15 months old when he was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of soft tissue cancer, in April 2017. His parents first noticed a pea-sized lump near his stomach while changing his nappy, but a GP reportedly suggested it was likely to be a cyst or hernia.
Brandreth, 78, recalled how his daughter refused to ignore her instincts and eventually took Kitt to A&E, where he received further attention. He said: "And there's the usual anxiety at the doctors where the first GP dismisses it. Fortunately, our daughter persists in anxiety and eventually does go against the rules and goes to A&E where they do take him more seriously and the good news is that eventually he ends up at Great Ormond Street and it is a story which for our family has a happy outcome."
Family's Role in the Journey
Brandreth, who shares his family with wife Michèle, admitted the diagnosis was an incredibly difficult time for everyone but stressed that the experience was primarily his daughter's and son-in-law's to navigate. He explained: "It was the first time I was confronted by a challenge but the challenge was my daughter's challenge and our son-in-law's challenge. It wasn't our story. It was their story. We were impacted on it, but all we could do was help."
Kitt spent around a year in hospital, with his parents taking turns to stay overnight by his bedside. Brandreth said his wife often took on the night shifts and admitted the experience put the family under considerable strain. Reflecting on how they managed, he said: "So how did we cope? By simply I think staying positive, staying there when required but out of the way when not required. And I think I hope making it about them and not about us."
Treatment and Recovery
Kitt was treated at Great Ormond Street Hospital, where he underwent chemotherapy, lost his hair and needed several blood and platelet transfusions. He also developed a bacterial infection which affected his heart and liver. Brandreth also described how difficult it was visiting the children's wards and seeing other young patients undergoing treatment. "You had to get used to going into the hospital, he was in two hospitals, and not bursting into tears seeing all these little children with no hair and all of them so positive," he said.
There has been a positive update, as Brandreth confirmed that Kitt has received his five-year all-clear, although he continues to attend regular check-ups. Speaking about the diagnosis previously, Brandreth said it had come as a shock because cancer was something his family had associated with older adults. He said: "Kitt's diagnosis was a shock to the system. We think of cancer as something that happens to unlucky middle-aged people. You think of breast cancer or prostate cancer and older people, but you don't think of kids - well, we didn't. I think we didn't realise what a long journey it was going to be." He added that hearing Kitt would be treated at Great Ormond Street had given the family reassurance, thanks to the hospital's reputation and specialist care.
