PARENTS who initially thought their son was suffering with a virus were told the devastating news he has cancerous tumours across his body.

Harrison Aspden’s world was turned upside down after doctors discovered he had tumours on his spleen, kidneys, liver and chest.

The six-year-old, from Darwen, was diagnosed with b-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a rare form of cancer in children.

Speaking on behalf of Harrison’s parents, Tash Parsons, 26, and Marcus Aspden, 26, Sophie Parsons, Harrison’s aunt, said her nephew started feeling unwell just before Christmas.

Sophie said Harrison became lethargic, was eating very little and began to lose weight.

Doctors believed the St Cuthbert’s Primary School pupil's symptoms were consistent with a viral infection.

However over Christmas and New Year Harrison did not improve so the family took him to Royal Blackburn Hospital, before he was sent to Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital over fears he had a form of cancer.

There it was found he had a rare form of the disease which affects around 80 children in the UK a year.

Sophie said: “It all happened so fast for my sister and Marcus, one day they thought he had a viral infection or constipation, the next he’s got cancer.

“They’re coping very well but it’s all very difficult.

“He was displaying all the signs for a viral infection and we thought it would go away but now he’s got a long road ahead.”

Harrison has just undertaken his first course of chemotherapy and doctors are waiting to see the outcome before deciding the next step.

Sophie said: “Doctors have said it's a treatable form of cancer but it's rare in children.

“It’s similar to leukaemia but it's not in his blood it's on his organs.”

Sophie set up a Gofundme page to raise money for the family and awareness of the disease.

She said: “My sister is self-employed and rents a chair at Hair and Beauty Studio in Darwen so every day she doesn’t work she isn’t earning any money.

“Although you have to put your life on hold, life doesn’t stop - bills still need paying and the cost of living has now increased with travelling to the hospital and other things.

“We also want to raise awareness of the condition as it’s not something everyone has heard of.

“You see this sort of thing happen to others and you never expect it to happen to your family.”

To donate to Sophie’s fundraiser, visit www.gofundme.com and search ‘please help Harrison and his family’.