EXCLUSIVE: Nick Clegg and wife Miriam reveal son Antonio’s private cancer battle

You very quickly move from the shock, to trying to support your child as they’re battling through this very heavy treatment.

Nick Clegg and his wife Miriam were devastated in September 2016 when their 14-year-old son Antonio was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma - a rare form of cancer. After months of chemotherapy, Antonio is now thankfully in the clear.

Nick and Miriam joined Lorraine in the studio this morning for an exclusive interview to tell their story and raise awareness for Bloodwise, who do important research into the disease.

Antonio was diagnosed when Nick took his son to their GP after he discovered a small, painless lump in his neck. After further investigations, it was confirmed that Antonio had stage two Hodgkins Lymphoma. “It was a very small lump,” Miriam explained, “He didn’t have any other symptoms. He didn’t have a high temperature, he was playing football for hours every day, you wouldn’t have noticed anything.” Miriam went on to describe taking Antonio to the GP as a ‘stroke of luck’.

When something like this happens, it just becomes the sole, principle objective just to make sure he’s better.

Antonio was treated at the teenage cancer unit at University College London Hospital, on the NHS, and received five monthly cycles of chemotherapy as well as taking strong steroids. “The advances in science have been amazing, of course, but it’s still a very brutal thing,” Nick explained, “You’re basically poisoning the body with very powerful chemicals and drugs to kill the cancerous cells, and that has huge side effects; hairloss, vomiting, nausea.”

“Eventually you realise there’s not much you can do as a parent,” Miriam added, “The only thing you can do is to be there for him.”

Antonio, thankfully, now has the all-clear, but will continue to be monitored by doctors every three months for the next couple of years.

For any concerns or more information on how you can help visit - Bloodwise's website which is full of information and support.

Watch the full interview above