17yo's cancer battle draws 'incredible' support

Emily Troake says the hospital informed them that Peter's cancer is "the most aggressive they'd seen" (Supplied)
Emily Troake says the hospital informed them that Peter's cancer is "the most aggressive they'd seen" (Supplied)

A lethal disease is any family's worst nightmare -- so when the Troake family was told their youngest child had an inoperable form of bone cancer, they got to work researching alternative treatment.

Peter Troake was just 17-years-old when he received his diagnosis and had his life turned upside down -- a hammer blow that struck a boy very much in the prime of his life just two months ago.

A well-liked student at Kristin School on Auckland's North Shore, Peter played four sports and was heavily involved in school life before he felt the discomfort in his chest that he would later discover was a lump on his ribcage.

Peter was diagnosed with an osteocarcoma -- a tumour of the bone -- and was hastily readied for chemotherapy in a matter of days as he settled into a room at Starship Children's Hospital, which he proved a little too large for.

"We did have to get a bigger bed in the room, because he's the biggest patient they've ever had in Starship history," his sister Emily said of her 6'5" brother, who also has size 16 feet.

17yo's cancer battle draws 'incredible' support

After a round of chemo, Peter returned home to recover and relax with family before scans would tell them whether the tumour was receding. The Troakes said they were amazed by the energy Peter still had in the midst of his treatment.

"He would literally come home from chemotherapy go golfing in the afternoon, and his hair started to grow back," Emily said.

However breathing issues forced Peter back into hospital for scans, where they discovered that that one of his lung membranes was three-quarters full with fluid.

"He only had a quarter lung capacity in his left lung, and they weren't even sure how he was walking. He'd just been walking around the [Auckland] Domain that morning," Emily said.

But that wasn't the only problem the scan uncovered. A visit to an oncologist that afternoon revealed that despite the chemotherapy, the cancer had spread from his rib and was now present in both lungs.

The oncologist took Peter aside and asked if he wanted to keep trying to fight the cancer or if he wanted to return home, stop treatment and give up, Emily said.

"The hospital said it was the most aggressive cancer they'd seen. That was pretty devastating. It was a hell day, basically -- we felt like we'd hit rock bottom."

Despite the distressing news, Emily said Peter took it the best out of the entire family.

"He's the most mature 17-year-old I know. The way he processes information and deals with everything that's thrown at him could honestly teach so many people a thing or two."

Emily said he even apologised to the oncologist, telling her he was sorry she had to deliver the news.

She said the family were a mixture of anger and disbelief after the scan -- but they found it difficult to accept that death was imminent, so returned to speak to a different doctor.

They were pleased they did, with the additional check-up showing Peter was not in fact, terminal -- and while his situation wasn't looking good, hope of a recovery still remained.

That sparked the Troakes into action, with each family member halting work at the family business to focus on helping Peter out of the life-threatening situation he now finds himself in.

Peter's brother Jacob and his girlfriend Grace visit him every day in hospital, with his mother Victoria ever present at his bedside -- while Peter's dad Vince, along with Emily and her fiancé Nick, research alternative treatment. The latter two have now put their wedding, scheduled for July, on hold until next year.

17yo's cancer battle draws 'incredible' support

From right to left: Nick, Grace, Jacob, Vince, Victoria and Emily (Supplied)

While Peter has returned to Starship for another round of chemotherapy, the family won't know whether he's getting any better for at least another fortnight -- so they have started looking elsewhere at less conventional treatments.

"We're not going down without a fight. You read about these miracle stories, but you actually read about so many of them that you have to keep holding onto that belief until the end," Emily said.

"We're exploring clinical trials overseas and we've joined a private adult treatment clinic as because of his age and his size, we need to kind of have feet in both camps."

However, travelling overseas is expensive -- and if flying is deemed too dangerous for Peter, the family may have to resort to bringing medical teams to treat him here in New Zealand, which would cost thousands.

A range of other treatments they are looking at in New Zealand will bear a significant cost, too -- and in response, a Givealittle page has been set up to offset some of the expenses alternative treatment will bring -- and it's already raised a staggering $37,000 in a week.

"The support we've received has been unbelievable," Emily said.

She says the family has high hopes Peter will see a full recovery down the line.

"He's 17-years-old -- you fight for his life, you fight until the last option. Hopefully we've got a much longer journey ahead where he gets better."

You can donate to Peter's Givealittle campaign here.

Newshub.