A brave 13-year-old hid his cancer diagnosis from his parents as he worried they “could not handle” the news that he might die.

The Indian boy, named only as Santhosh, reportedly kept a letter informing him of his diagnosis secret from his parents, confiding only in his uncle.

According to reports, his grandmother had died of cancer, leading to his reticence to reveal he had the disease.

Santhosh said: “I told my uncle not to tell anyone about cancer. My mother knows I am sick but has no idea that I am suffering from cancer.”

But despite his efforts, Santhosh’s father has since found out about his disease and is raising money online to fund a much-needed bone marrow transplant for his son, which will apparently cost around 1.5 million Indian Rupees – nearly £18,000.

View photos Brave – Santhosh tried to hide his diagnosis from his parents so they wouldn’t worry (Pictures: Milaap) More

According to an appeal on the fundraising site Milaap, Santhosh has to travel 500km to hospital for each chemotherapy treatment and go home the same day as his family cannot afford to rent a room in Bangalore.

But the boy is apparently still attending school, saying: “We have lost my Grand-mother to cancer and now it has attacked me. I hope I don’t die so soon. I don’t want to let my family down.”

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He added: “I want to continue studies and make my parents happy but I hope Cancer doesn’t kill me like it killed my Grand-mother.”

According to the fundraising site, his uncle Srinivas said: “His platelet count has gone down drastically. He has become very weak but he puts up a strong face for the family. “He is a brilliant student and very good in sports as well, once a champion basketball player in school. Now? He is not even able to walk!”