WHILE Tom Brown was going through four months of radiotherapy, the last thing on his mind was his illness.

Instead, he focused on his studies. And it has paid off.

Tom picked up his GCSE results yesterday and achieved 12 A*s and two As.

The Colchester Royal Grammar School pupil underwent pioneering radiotherapy in Jacksonville, Florida, for a slow-growing tumour in his neck between January and April.

Tom, 16, said: “When I got on the plane I was allowed 30kg and, honestly, it was mostly taken up with school books.

“I just didn’t bother with clothes.”

“The school was fantastic sending me work.

“I would sit in hospital, do it and send it back, and I just hoped I was getting it right.”

Tom completed his work while going through 39 sessions of radiotherapy.

Experts believe the new treatment can better focus on affected areas, which means there are fewer side-effects.

Tom, whose tumour was inside his salivary gland, was considered a prime candidate for the treatment.

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