Brave youngster James Duller has lost his fight against a rare form of cancer.

James, four, of Greenway, Great Clacton, died after being diagnosed with pulmonaryblastoma cancer, one of only four cases ever reported in the UK.

His father Paul, 41, said: "He was a tower of strength, a little fighter, what he went through a grown-up could not have put up with."

Mr Duller and his wife Kim, 40, praised nurses and doctors at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge and Colchester General Hospital who had helped care for James.

Mr Duller said: "He had been off treatment for a year. We went up to Addenbrooke's for a check-up, they take an X-ray and check it with the last one. Within five weeks it just took over his body.

"When he came back from Addenbrooke's we had to take him to Colchester General Hospital for some treatment and when they said he only had a few days to go we brought him home."

James died peacefully on Wednesday morning, Mr Duller said.

Mr and Mrs Fuller have one other son, Scott, who is 21 months old and a daughter Trish.

Mr Fuller also praised the Sargent Fund, which helps families of cancer victims with anything from paying travelling expenses to phone bills.

When James first fell ill last February with breathing problems his mother was still on maternity leave with Scott.

James's breathing grew worse and within days he had been transferred to the Royal Brompton Hospital in London.

He underwent an operation to remove a tumour and then had chemotherapy at the Royal Marsden in Surrey.

Mr Duller gave up his job as a self-employed builder to help out.

At first the cancer affected James's lungs but this time it affected his liver and diaphragm.

Pulmonaryblastoma cancer is extremely rare and only 100 cases have been reported worldwide.

James's funeral will be held at Burrsville Cemetery in Great Clacton on Wednesday.

Much-loved son - parents Paul and Kim Duller with little James.

By Mark Whiting

Reporter's e-mail: mark_whiting@thisisessex.co.uk

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