Bradley Lowery ‘hasn’t been too good’ but is all smiles after getting gifts from his beloved Sunderland FC

BEAMING Bradley Lowery clutches balloons sent by his beloved Sunderland FC as it’s revealed his latest gruelling treatment has been taking a toll.

The five-year-old Black Cats superfan, battling a rare form of cancer, has been left exhausted by a transfusion.

His family wrote on Facebook:  “Bradley has not been so well in the last 24 hours and hasn’t been awake much but he was cheered up by some balloons sent from Sunderland AFC.

“He has had a platelet transfusion and is due to get a blood transfusion on Saturday when his treatment finishes.

“Thank you to everyone for your support it means a lot and Bradley loves opening his gifts and letters from you lovely people.”

In a tweet they told followers he was playing with his Lego.

Last month Bradley was invited to be an England mascot after learning that a new tumour had developed.

Scan results showing a growth at the bottom of his back came as the Football Association invited him to be a mascot for the Three Lions clash with Lithuania on March 26.

The youngster will step out on the pitch during the World Cup qualifier next month at Wembley Stadium.

He is already a mascot for his beloved team Sunderland and is no stranger to cheering crowds.

Brave Bradley has captured the hearts of the nation as he battles neuroblastoma for the second time.

Parents Gemma and Carl launched a fundraising campaign for pioneering treatment in the US to extend his life after they were told he was terminally ill.

But in a Facebook post last month his family revealed he has developed a new tumour.

The message on Bradley’s campaign page read: “Unfortunately the results are not what we wanted to hear.

"Bradley scans show that there has been a small reduction in some parts however there is a new tumour on the bottom of his back.

"As you can imagine we are devastated and heart broken with this news as I really wanted the new treatment to work.

"We are not sure where we go from here as it will depend on his bone marrow biopsy results.

"He is getting this done tomorrow but results won't be back for another week.

"Why is life so cruel? Why do we have to get bad news time after time?

"Why does my baby not get a break?"

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368