Liz Hayes speaks to the parents of Oshin who has terminal cancer, where his parents are fighting the necessary medical treatment needed to save his life. Courtesy: 60 Minutes

'I want him to live, not to survive' - Angela

A SIX-year-old boy with cancer will not be forced to undergo radiotherapy.

Oshin Kiszko was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour last year, but his parents opposed the treatment recommended by doctors due to the side effects.

A court order in March forced Oshin to receive chemotherapy and he was given two cycles of the treatment.

Family Court Chief Judge Stephen Thackray then considered whether Oshin should also be given radiation and handed down his judgment on Friday, saying the parents had agreed to continue chemotherapy instead.

Oshin had an initial surgery to remove his brain tumour but his cancer had spread.

Last month Oshin’s mother Angela Kiszko spoke out on 60 Minutes about why she was refusing treatment for her child.

“I don’t understand it (radiotherapy and chemotherapy) and I’ve said it to the oncologist — I would be for it but I can’t understand it,” she said.

“(Using) two carcenogenics just doesn’t make sense to me.”

It is likely Oshin won’t survive without the treatment and Australian Medical Association president Professor Brain Owler said the survival rate would be over 80 per cent if Oshin did have chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Earlier this week the barrister representing Oshin’s parents, Andrew Skerritt, told the court the parents opposed radiotherapy because of the long-term side effects.

During the proceedings one reputable medical expert agreed the parents’ actions were reasonable.

Ms Kiszko has studied naturopathy and was concerned about aggressive cancer treatments.

The Family Court of WA Chief Judge Stephen Thackray ruled in March that Oshin would start chemotherapy.

He said it was clear the young boy would die without any treatment.

If Justice Thackray decided Oshin would need radiotherapy, he would have started it next Monday.

Ms Kiszko told 60 Minutes when she read about the side effects of cancer treatment, she wanted to vomit.

“I thought I could not put myself through it. Why could I put my son through it?” she said.

“I don’t want my son’s brain fried with radiation.”