Stoke City fan George Bould, 6, in cancer tumour battle

SCHOOLBOY George Bould needs life-saving surgery after being diagnosed with a rare tumour.

Parents Amy Twigg and Jason Bould are still coming to terms with their 'nightmare' after discovering a lump under their son's left rib cage just four weeks ago.

Doctors diagnosed the tumour on the six-year-old's kidney within days.

Now George is to have surgery on April 10 to remove the kidney and the tumour. He will then face chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

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But the Stoke City fan hopes to be at the Britannia Stadium just four days earlier to see the Potters play Aston Villa.

George said: "I am feeling all right at the moment. I really hope I can go to the Stoke match – I think they'll win."

The Boulds, of Randles Lane, Wetley Rocks, are already making weekly trips to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire where George is having chemotherapy.

Jason, aged 43, who works as a PE teacher at Cicely Haughton Special School, in Wetley Rocks, said: "To say I am devastated isn't a big enough word to describe it – we are just heartbroken. We have been told the recovery chances are high and have explained to him what is going on. He's coping with it so well."

Amy, aged 30, who works as a civil servant, added: "It's just a nightmare. Everyday you wake up and it is the first thing on your mind and you just wish that you had dreamt it."

George's parents found the lump under the rib cage on February 17.

He was taken to Moorland Medical Centre, in Leek, the next day and was referred to see a hospital paediatrician.

But George's condition deteriorated and he began to vomit. A scan at the University Hospital found a 'large' tumour on George's kidney.

Amy said: "You know when they take you into a room that it is going to be bad news. The week before he was absolutely fine and everything was normal and then in one day your whole life comes crashing down."

George has been diagnosed with Wilms' Tumour, which affects just 70 children in the UK every year.

The brave youngster still manages half-a-day at St John's Primary School, in Wetley Rocks, Monday to Thursday.

Amy added: "He is an absolute trooper and it doesn't bother him at all. He just says there is a brick inside him that they will get out.

"George's school has been fantastic and he met goalkeeper Jack Butland at Stoke City last week and the club really accommodated him."