A Hertfordshire teenager with roots in County Down is undergoing treatment for leukaemia after his mother insisted on further medical tests when she felt his symptoms were being underestimated.
Kit Chester-Canavan, 16, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (B-type) in November 2025 following weeks of persistent pain and unexplained weight loss.
His mother, Amanda Chester, said she became increasingly concerned as his condition failed to improve and pushed for a blood test that ultimately led to the diagnosis.
“I just knew something wasn’t right,” she said. “You try to trust what you’re being told, but as a parent you also have to listen to your instincts.”
Kit had initially complained of recurring back pain earlier in the year, which worsened after a bike accident in the autumn. While the symptoms were initially thought to be linked to a minor injury or illness, his condition continued to deteriorate.
The turning point came when tests revealed abnormal inflammation markers, prompting urgent further investigation.
The diagnosis came as a shock to the family.
“You don’t expect something like that,” Kit said. “It just didn’t feel real at first.”
Now receiving care at University College Hospital London, he has begun an intensive course of treatment including chemotherapy and immunotherapy, which is expected to last up to two years.
Despite the disruption to his daily life, Kit has remained focused on recovery and what lies ahead.
He is a keen football fan — following both Arsenal and Celtic — and has long been active in sport, including playing Gaelic football, reflecting his strong Irish identity.
That sense of identity has remained an important source of resilience.
His family has launched a fundraising campaign to support both his recovery journey and the work of the Teenage Cancer Trust, which provides specialist care for young people facing cancer.
A community fundraising match, organised by close friends under the banner Kick for Kit, has already drawn strong local support, highlighting the network rallying around him.
Amanda said the experience has been both frightening and clarifying.
“You realise how quickly everything can change,” she said. “But you also see how much kindness there is around you.”
For Kit, the focus remains on getting through treatment and looking forward to the future — including hopes of travelling and ticking off long-held ambitions.
“There are tough days,” he said, “but I’m just taking it step by step.”
Charity football match at Borehamwood FC’s Meadow Park Stadium on 8 May to support Kit and the Teenager Cancer Trust
More details
https://www.borehamwoodfootballclub.co.uk/private-events/?ftredirect=1
Donate to Kits Hope Trip, organized by Amanda Chester
See More: County Down, Hertfordshire, Leukaemia
