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A couple’s eight-year-old boy was diagnosed with the disease when he was a baby and now his 21-year-old brother has terminal brain cancer.
The doctors broke the news to the parents in March about a 5cm tumour on Thomas Swan-Dennis’ brain.
"I bet you never thought lightning would strike twice," Thomas told his mom, Angela Swan-Dennis, according to Nottingham Post.
Thomas has since undergone surgery – while awake – to have the tumour removed.
But not all of it could be taken out and he’s now receiving treatment at the hospital to slow the growth since there’s no cure.
According to Mirror Thomas’ eight-year-old brother William is also receiving treatment and twice-yearly check-ups in Birmingham after he was diagnosed with liver cancer at just 21 weeks old.
William is said to have found a new lease on life when he was left with only a few days to live but luckily a donor was found and he received a new liver at 10 months old.
"For a family to have to go through it once is unbelievable, to have to go through it twice is just terrible,” Angela said.
"It was heartbreaking when William was diagnosed with cancer. When we were told Thomas had it too we were just gobsmacked, we thought it couldn't be right.
"Our family have been through hell and back in the past eight years."
Thomas told The Sun he remains optimistic about his treatment.
"When my brother had it, it was more upsetting as I couldn’t help him, but I haven’t been upset for myself.
"I want to carry on as normal – I got a bit bored doing nothing, there's only so much Netflix you can watch. It also means I don't want to delay things I want to do."
His dad, Ric Swan-Dennis, a 44-year-old prison officer, said the past two months had been a "whirlwind".
Sources: Nottingham Post, Mirror, The Sun
