A MOTTINGHAM boy is believed to be one of the first teenagers in the UK to try a pioneering new cancer drug.

Sixteen-year-old Ryan Thurston, and his family were devastated when he was diagnosed with malignant melanoma, a type of skin cancer, earlier this month and discovering it had spread. 

The West Ham fan wants to become an electrician and set up his own business.

However currently he is forced to miss school as he battles the disease and his family are keen to raise money into future treatment.

Ryan, of Elmhurst Road, started a drugs trial on Vemurafenib at The Royal Marsden in Sutton on January 24. The drug made headlines last November as NICE recommended it be available on the NHS.

Mum Maria Thurston, 48, said: "It’s the worst news anyone can hear. No mother wants to go through this with their child but I’m not going to let him down.

"We’re not going to give up without a fight. We’re going to do all we can to beat this.

"No one even knew anything was wrong with him until he keeled over."

The family have set up a website where people can give money to the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

Over £2,000 has been raised so far but Ms Thurston hopes they can reach £150,000 for research into another drug Ipilimumab which brings hope to skin cancer patients.

For more information, visit ryanjustbeatit.co.uk/index.html