LITTLE Luke Chadney is battling a cancer so rare he is he is only the eighth-known case in the world.

But that didn’t stop the three-year-old beaming with delight when he received his shiny Little Star award.

Luke, from Burcot, near Abingdon, started gruelling cancer treatment on his third birthday in March for neuro-blastoma, a rare childhood cancer which starts in the developing nerves and affects only 100 children in the UK each year, mostly before the age of five.

But his cancer is even more unusual because it is in his jaw bone.

After months of intensive chemotherapy treatment Luke still faces many years of surgery. But his parents James and Kate said he has made few complaints, and nominated him for a Cancer Research UK Little Star Award.

The annual awards acknowledge the unique challenges faced by youngsters who encounter cancer.

As well as the star-shaped trophy, each Little Star receives a £50 TK Maxx gift card and certificate signed by celebrities including chart-toppers Rihanna, Leona Lewis and the Jonas Brothers, as well as Manchester United and Arsenal stars Ryan Giggs and Cesc Fabregas and Formula 1 ace Jenson Button.

Receiving the award from Cancer Research UK’s Helen Johnstone yesterday, Luke said: “I really like my Little Star. I can’t wait to show it to my friends.”

Luke’s dad James, 38, said: “Doctors at the John Radcliffe Hospital have said that Luke’s specific diagnosis – in his jaw bone – was only the eighth globally-known case, so each step of his treatment is slightly experimental.

“I nominated Luke for his bravery and resilience. He has been remarkable in his ability to cope with significant change and not being able to always be out and about like other healthy three-year-olds.

“Contact with family, friends and even his favourite pets are often out of bounds, but he has shown amazing understanding, acceptance and strength.”

Mr Chadney is a senior business analyst with Cancer Research UK, based at the charity’s office in Cowley, Oxford. Even before his son’s diagnosis, raised thousands of pounds for research to help people with cancer.

Luke’s mum, Kate, 39, and members of their extended family and work colleagues, also regularly take part in Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life.

Despite his intensive treatment, Luke, who has two sisters, Grace, five, and Rose, who was born at the end of October, keeps bouncing back.

Mr Chadney added: “Chemotherapy has reduced Luke’s cancer and it is hoped surgery will remove it altogether. By the end of this year he will undergo complex surgery to his jaw and will require repeat operations as he grows until he is about 18.

“Surgery will give Luke the best chance of survival.”