An eight-year-old battling a rare form of cancer is “doing really well” according to her mother, and may have a better chance of survival than first feared.

Kenzi Azab was diagnosed with MLL leukaemia in March 2006 — a condition so rare that only 300 people in the world are known to have it.

The youngster, who lived in Bermuda until she was six years old, has endured intensive treatments including chemotherapy and radiotherapy since then.

Having been given initial care at Boston Children’s Hospital, she is currently undergoing further specialist treatment in Denmark, where her Bermudian mother Sharon Sears-Azab has family links.

Although the future looked bleak for Kenzi when she was first diagnosed, Mrs. Sears-Azab said that things are now looking brighter.

“Kenzi’s doing really well now, and is actually in the last stages of her treatment plan and she has finished chemotherapy,” she said.

“As for her particular form of leukaemia, the doctors here feel very positive, and now say that because she didn’t relapse in her first year of treatment it may be possible that her chances of survival are much better than they first thought.

“Of course, that was followed with ‘but we don’t have enough data to tell for sure’ but that was a major step forward as far as we’re concerned.

“We are feeling extremely positive for Kenzi, maybe because she’s now so full of energy — hence a fractured wrist that recently happened when she tried to run and fell over her own feet. Some colour is returning to her cheeks, and hair to her head. I think her frame of mind can be summed up by what she said when we told her that she wouldn’t be getting any more chemotherapy. Quite simply, she shouted,”I made it!”

Nonetheless, the youngster — described as a “tough cookie” by her mother — continues to face many challenges.

“She still has quite a long way to go before she’ll get anywhere near back to normal, if ever. From now on she’ll have monthly check-ups and blood tests, as the possibility of relapse is highest during the first year after treatment has ended.

“Then the monitoring just slows down over the ensuing five years.

“We still have to wait for another five years until we can say ‘all clear’ and even then, the risk for a secondary cancer is still high, which goes for anyone who has undergone chemotherapy and radiation.

“Unfortunately, that’s for life,” said Mrs. Sears-Azab.

As The Royal Gazette has previously reported, Kenzi was treated to a special tea party organised by the Child’s Wish charity at the Hamilton Princess Hotel while home for a visit last Christmas.

This weekend, she will travel to the north coast of Sjaelland in Denmark for an ‘end of chemo’ party with her classmates.

According to Mrs. Azab she also “can’t wait” for another trip back home to Bermuda next month when she will catch up with her friends and enjoy a birthday party on the beach.