“It’s just like we’re living a bad dream again.”

Those are the words of a heartbroken mum who will be spending Christmas away from her teenage son after doctors discovered he has a brain tumour – again.

Cameron Norman, 13, from Singleton, was rushed to hospital last month after saying he felt unwell and was suffering with headaches.

Doctors discovered the teenager had an anaplastic ependomona, a grade-three tumour known for spreading more quickly than others.

"When he was three, he had to have chemotherapy for nine months. He was told he was in the clear about four years ago and wouldn’t have to keep going in for check-ups unless he felt unwell"

After two operations, the tumour was successfully removed but Cameron will need further proton beam therapy in the USA as quickly as possible.

Mum-of-two Andrea Jacobs, a nursery assistant, said it felt like the return of a nightmare because Cameron had suffered from a brain tumour when he was three.

She said: “He didn’t understand what was going on back then but he does now, which is a nightmare.

“When he was three, he had to have chemotherapy for nine months.

“He was told he was in the clear about four years ago and wouldn’t have to keep going in for check-ups unless he felt unwell.

“So when he was really poorly at a friend’s house and said he was having headaches, I just knew something was not right.

“I hoped I was being over-cautious, but the doctors found another tumour and within six hours he had been rushed to King’s College Hospital in London to have an operation.”

Proton beam therapy will not be available in this country until 2018 and so Cameron will have to travel to America to have the treatment.

The Towers School pupil will fly over with his Dad, Stuart Norman, and the pair will have to spend 10 weeks in either Oklahoma or Florida.

The NHS will cover most of the cost but things like living expenses and travel costs while they are there are not funded.

Andrea, 44, said she has estimated the 10-week stay will set the family back £5,000, and is keen to start fundraising.

She said: “A substantial amount still needs to be found to cover things like car hire and insurance.

“The accommodation is quite far away from the hospital and Cameron will be too ill from the treatment to take public transport.”

“Cameron has just been absolutely amazing, he sometimes puts me to shame with how funny and strong he is.

“He can be quite shy but he just gets on with it and doesn’t complain. He says it’s fine and it’s just something that has to be done.

“He is very humble and got quite emotional when he found out my friends and colleagues arranged a fundraising event for his treatment.

“He is a very special little man.”

Andrea’s friends and colleagues will be holding a fundraising coffee morning at Little Ark Nursery, in Wesley School Road, Singleton, on Saturday to raise money for Cameron’s stay in America.

The event will run from 10am to noon, and everyone is welcome.