Toddler Megan defies doctors in brain cancer battle

A CORK toddler who was given just weeks to live last October continues to beat the odds and amaze her doctors after an MRI scan revealed that the cancer in her brain has almost completely disappeared.

Three and a half year old Megan Malone, from Kilnamartyra near Macroom, is due to commence a third round of chemotherapy today at New York’s Presbyterian Hospital where she is receiving specialist treatment under the Head Start programme which is unavailable here in Ireland.

After being diagnosed last October with a rare cancerous brain tumour, Megan was given a less than 20% chance of survival by doctors in Ireland. However, after her dad John heard about the Head Start programme, he made contact with the doctors in New York. When it discovered the cancer had spread to her spine, doctors at the New York hospital offered a 50/50 chance of recovery if Megan could be flown to the US immediately.