Kallan is an Irish name and in Gaelic means “powerful in battle” and right now Kallan is fighting the battle of his life.

He turned 18 last week, a milestone doctors thought he would never make.

In September 2008 Kallan was diagnosed with bone cancer after complaining of a sore shoulder.

The budding young Rutherford rugby league player was just starting to carve a name for himself but had to put his dream on hold to undergo major surgery and chemotherapy.

Kallan was diagnosed with osteosarcoma and underwent six months of treatment.

This included the removal of a tumour and his humerus bone, which was replaced with a prosthetic bone.

“All went well and he was cancer-free for more than seven years but in December last year Kallan became sick and was diagnosed with pneumonia,” his father Darren Egar said.

“He was coughing a lot, his body was aching and he just wasn’t getting any better. We knew there was something seriously wrong because he was getting worse,” Darren said.

Soon after Kallan was diagnosed with a relapse. This time the cancer had spread to one of his lungs. He was operated on with the chance he may lose a lung, but in a devastating turn surgeons found the cancer had spread to Kallan’s heart.

He has started a trial chemotherapy treatment, which Darren said has “slightly shrunk” the tumour. “He’s a really tough kid with a strong mental attitude and so very, very brave.”