Ewing’s Sarcoma: Essendon fan Ethan Westwood, 14, opens up on cancer battle

Ethan Westwood is in the fight of his life after a rare cancer spread around his body. But the Templestowe teen is refusing to let the disease get him down.

Any cancer patient knows how hard it can be to get knocked down and rise back up again.

But Ethan Westwood, 14, is determined to use every bit of resilience and strength he has to overcome his devastating, rollercoaster cancer battle.

The Templestowe teen, a Year 9 student at East Doncaster Secondary College and an avid player at Doncaster Junior Football Club, is battling the rare cancer Ewing’s sarcoma, which often begins in the legs, pelvis and arms.

Ethan was first diagnosed in August 2021 when after feeling strong nerve pain in his left leg, doctors found a tumour in his lower spine.

“It’s very terrible news and I wouldn’t wish it on anybody,” Ethan said.

“It’s probably the hardest thing anyone can go through (a cancer diagnosis), mentally and physically, it’s all in your head.”

Showing a maturity beyond his years, he began focusing on simple pleasures such as watching the sun come up every morning from his hospital bed, and looking forward to a roast dinner made by his dad to keep him motivated.

“It was really important to me, to really keep my head on straight and look forward,” he said.

“You just look forward to when you’re out of there … you look forward to the little things in life, like home cooked meals, family, seeing your family and friends and school.

“It keeps you motivated to do the little things you love and the big things to look forward to.”

Ethan Westwood, 14, left, with dad Derek at their Templestowe home. Ethan is a huge Essendon fan and is battling a fresh cancer battle after going through 10 months of treatment. Picture: Kiel Egging.

Ethan finished 10 months of rigorous chemotherapy and rang the bell at The Royal Children’s Hospital to symbolise the end of his treatment, thinking the worst was behind him.

“It was the best feeling, the happiest day of my life,” he said.

But three weeks later, he started to feel more “pretty bad back pain”, and received the devastating news at a check-up that the cancer had become eight tumours around his body.

One of the tumours in his rib put him in his wheelchair because the pain made it too difficult to breathe and walk properly.

He would also wake up most mornings with his body shaking in excruciating pain.

Ethan teared up recounting the news to Leader, saying it rocked him to his core after he had already endured so much.

“I’ve got to get back into everything I know how to do, keep my head on straight, and keep my head up for not only me, but everyone around me, and do the best I can with whatever treatments are available,” he said.

Father Derek is right by his son’s side, along with his twin brother Kalen, 14, and his 21-year-old brother and sister, Lucas and Elyse, who are also twins.

Mr Westwood said the family want to explore all integrative treatments which could help his son.

“It was devastating news for Ethan and the whole family, it’s incredibly tough for anyone who has gone through treatment to realise they have to go through it again,” he said.

“We’re going to continue to fight for Ethan and he’s got an amazing group of family, friends and networks which all have our arms around him and supporting him.”

A GoFundMe started by Ethan’s uncle, Wes Reynolds, has raised more than $23,000 to support Ethan’s fight as his family try to keep him comfortable and they explore specialist treatments.

Cancer charity Challenge has also embraced Ethan’s battle, sending the mad Essendon fan out to meet the team, including his favourite players Sam Draper and Dyson Heppell.

Ethan will be running out with the Bombers, and possibly tossing the coin, at the club’s match against Port Adelaide on August 14 at Marvel Stadium, which has a cancer awareness theme.

But after his upcoming moment in the sun, Ethan knows its “game on” and is determined to fight and get his life back to normal again.

“I’m all about defying the odds and not letting people tell me I can’t do this or can’t do that,” he said.

“There’s a whole world out there and there’s nothing stopping you, even if you have these sort of health problems.

“You’ve got to know your limits, but I’m really trying to strive and do the best with what I can.”

You can donate to Ethan’s GoFundMe fundraiser here.