Townsville boy Jhye Hoban’s cancer returns after tumour was removed from brain

The family of a “cheeky” eight-year-old boy from Townsville —operated on for a rare brain tumour — say his cancer has returned, and this time it could be terminal.

THE family of a ‘cheeky’ eight-year-old boy operated on for a rare brain tumour say his cancer has returned and they fear this time it could be terminal.

Kelso boy Jhye Hoban was diagnosed with a rare choroid plexus tumour on his brain which was successfully removed at the Townsville University Hospital last July.

The grade three student was almost one year into his remission and back in the classroom with his mates at Willows State School when he suddenly became ill on July 6.

Jhye’s mother, Chloe Thumm, rushed him to the emergency department and a CT scan revealed his tumour had returned, this time on his neck, specifically the C1/2 spinal cord.

Jyhe Hoban (middle) with his stepsister Kiara and brother Braxton.

His family are now worried the tumour could be growing aggressively because Jhye got scanned only three weeks earlier, and the tumour wasn’t picked up.

“They are getting an MRI next week to see if it’s grown again and go from there,” Mrs Thumm said.

“If it has grown in that time, that’s very aggressive. If that’s the case, we don’t have many options at this stage, so I’m researching possible treatments outside of Australia.

“I fail to believe there’s nothing more we can do, and if it takes every inch of strength I have left to find a way, I will.

Jyhe Hoban with his mum Chloe.

“It’s terrifying. It’s gut-wrenching because it’s almost 12 months to the day of his remission. “It’s like being kicked when your down.”

After finding out Jhye’s tumour had returned, Chloe and her partner Zac brought forward their wedding by a year and tied the knot on July 29 to make sure Jhye could take part while he was still well enough.

Jyhe Hoban in hospital last year.

“We organised it all in nine days — we thought why put it off because we don’t know where we’ll be next year.

“We’re taking every day at a time now. Jhye’s still going to school while he can because he loves it so much.

“He is the most cheekiest, fun-loving, smiley kid you’d ever meet.

“If you were to meet him, you would not even suspect that this tumour is even present in his neck, and we have a massive battle ahead of us. 

Jyhe Hoban in hospital last year.

“People are astounded that he’s even back at school, but we’re hoping to keep him home for as long as we can, so he’s with family, and he gets a normal childhood.”

A GoFundMe appeal has been set up by Jhye’s aunt to help his family with medical costs and to help them make the most of their days together while his health allows it.

You can donate here: https://gofund.me/1bc8b68a

Originally published as Townsville boy Jhye Hoban’s cancer returns after tumour was removed from brain