Poking, prying, surgeries and chemo are a reality for an 11-year-old Langford boy.

Brett Cunard, a, Lakewood elementary school student, hopes his trip to B.C. ChildrenB次元官网网址檚 Hospital this week is the last time he boards a ferry to receive chemotherapy to fight HodgkinB次元官网网址檚 lymphoma.

Even with the (hopefully) last round under his belt, Brett will undergo blood work and monitoring.

B次元官网网址淢ost of the cancer is gone,B次元官网网址� said his mother Sarah Cunard. B次元官网网址淏ut there is still some left. I am still kind of scared, but I know heB次元官网网址檚 going to be OK. But he will need to be checked for the rest of his life.B次元官网网址�

After tests in a few weeks, Brett may need to undergo radiation therapy, but his mother says his prognosis is good.

Brett first noticed a lump in his neck nearly a year ago in June 2012.

B次元官网网址淗e felt a lump in his neck, but it didnB次元官网网址檛 hurt,B次元官网网址� Sarah said.

Over the next few months Brett and Sarah went to several appointments with various doctors. He underwent a needle biopsy, surgery to remove a cervical node, X-rays and various scans.

Many of the tests kept coming back inconclusive and until Feb. 5 when Brett was diagnosed with the cancer.

B次元官网网址淚t was the worst thing ever, I started to tear up and then Brett was getting tears,B次元官网网址� said the single mother. B次元官网网址淚t was really scary. I didnB次元官网网址檛 know what to expect.B次元官网网址�

He had several masses in his chest that were intertwined with organs including BrettB次元官网网址檚 heart and couldnB次元官网网址檛 be removed, his mom said.

After being diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer Brett began his first chemo treatment Feb. 19 in Vancouver.

B次元官网网址淗e has gotten quite an aggressive treatment. He has chemo for three days, then five days off then one more day of chemo. On the first day of chemo the treatment is 10 hours each time,B次元官网网址� Sarah said. B次元官网网址淗odgkins is one of the only types of cancer where you can be an outpatient.B次元官网网址�

This last round of chemo will be BrettB次元官网网址檚 fourth time.

B次元官网网址淏rett has been very brave and strong throughout all of this,B次元官网网址� said his mom, with pride.

BrettB次元官网网址檚 grandfather, or Papa has he calls him, comes to town each weekend and travels to Vancouver for treatments.

Brett is an active 11-year-old and when he was diagnosed with the disease, he had to stop playing the sports he loves.

He started this hockey season playing for the Juan de Fuca Grizzlies peewee C2 team as a centre, but after doctors noticed his spleen was enlarged he was told to hang up the skates for a while.

B次元官网网址淲e had no idea,B次元官网网址� said his mother Sarah Cunard. B次元官网网址淗e didnB次元官网网址檛 seem sick at all.B次元官网网址�

Brett also enjoys racing with Victoria BMX, but as long has his spleen is enlarged, heB次元官网网址檒l have to miss out on the summer season as well.

Sarah cut her hours at work to two days a week to take care of Brett and take him to all of his appointments.

Friends and family ran a series of fundraisers for Brett to help Sarah cover living expenses.

B次元官网网址淚 was overwhelmed in a good way. I couldnB次元官网网址檛 believe that all these people cared so much,B次元官网网址� Sarah said. B次元官网网址淚 am amazed it all worked out.B次元官网网址�

charla@goldstreamgazette.com