After what seemed to be a routine trip to doctor in November 2014 to check on a shoulder pain, Kailem, 18, was later diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, a very rare form of bone cancer.

Mr Barwick said the relatively uncommon disease affected mainly children and adolescents and occurred in only 1 per cent of childhood cancers.

Since leaving school, Kailem joined his father in the family plastering business, which had been put on hold in February this year to get through 14 stages of intense chemotherapy at Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

Mr Barwick said his son's treatment had been progressing well.

"He's all through his radiation treatment and has completed 12 out of his 14 chemotherapy sessions," Mr Barwick said.

While Ewing's sarcoma was thought to be extremely rare, Mr Barwick said Kailem had struck up a friendship with another patient, Rhys Pagalday, also diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma and coincidentally born on the same day, February 13, a year apart.

Kailem had told his family it had been handy to have someone his own age to speak to.

"It's been handy for us to talk to someone as well, they've told us what to expect, how the boys feel and how they handle the treatment," Mr Barwick said.

Mr Barwick said he and his family would be eternally grateful for the support from the Dubbo community.

A fundraising event held in March resulted in about $22,000 of funds donated to the Barwicks to assist with Kailem's treatment and accommodation costs.

"That has really carried through," he said.