Importance Score: 45 / 100 🔵
Mother Recounts Missed Diagnoses in Teen Daughter’s Fatal Bone Cancer Case
A heartbroken mother has shared the tragic account of her ‘beautiful, kind, and funny’ daughter’s death at just 19, following multiple failures by doctors to identify a lethal form of bone cancer. The case highlights the critical importance of early cancer diagnosis, especially in young people, and the devastating consequences of delayed treatment for conditions like Ewing sarcoma.
Dismissed Concerns and Overlooked Symptoms
Jane Kelly, from Gateshead, described feeling dismissed as an overly anxious parent as her teenage daughter’s symptoms were repeatedly misattributed to common illnesses like glandular fever and urinary tract infections over a two-year period. Despite Ms. Kelly’s persistent concerns, medical professionals initially downplayed the severity of Megan’s deteriorating health.
Late Diagnosis of Ewing Sarcoma
It was only after an extended period of misdiagnosis that Megan was finally diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a rare cancer originating in the bone. By this point, the aggressive disease had already metastasized, spreading to her lungs and lymph nodes. Doctors delivered a grim prognosis, estimating a mere 30 percent chance of survival beyond five years. Tragically, Megan succumbed to the illness just over a year after her diagnosis.
Early Signs and Persistent Illness
The first indication that something was amiss appeared in September 2017 when Megan was 16 years old. “It started with a virus that lingered for over three weeks, she simply couldn’t shake it,” Ms. Kelly recalled. This initial illness was followed by a succession of viral infections, accompanied by recurring urine infections. Megan’s declining health led to significant school absence, ultimately resulting in her being asked to leave by Easter 2018.
Misdiagnosis and Parental Instincts
Despite numerous consultations, medical professionals failed to identify the underlying cause of Megan’s persistent infections. They attributed her symptoms to common ailments such as glandular fever, even as she suffered from chronic fatigue. Ms. Kelly confided that her “gut feeling” strongly suggested “something was seriously wrong.”
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Ms. Kelly’s intuition was heightened by her personal history with cancer. “I had previously battled Hodgkin lymphoma [blood cancer] at 32,” she explained. “My own diagnosis had been delayed for a year, and I recognized unsettling parallels between my experiences and Megan’s ordeal.” While a rational part of her wanted to trust the doctors’ reassurances of viral infections, Ms. Kelly grappled with the growing fear that her teenage daughter might be facing cancer, a prospect she desperately hoped to avoid.
Hypothermia and Further Dismissal
In 2019, Megan experienced another severe health crisis – this time presenting with dangerous hypothermia, a potentially life-threatening drop in body temperature. “I explicitly told the doctor at the walk-in clinic that urgent action was needed, expressing my fear of a serious underlying condition,” Ms. Kelly recounted. However, her concerns were again minimized, with the doctor dismissing her as a possibly neurotic parent.
Breakthrough and Devastating Confirmation
The turning point came in June of that year when a perceptive general practitioner conducted a thorough examination and detected a suspicious mass on Megan’s kidney. The GP urgently summoned Ms. Kelly to the surgery, conveying her strong suspicion of cancer. Subsequent hospital testing definitively confirmed the devastating diagnosis: stage 4 soft cell Ewing sarcoma. Doctors indicated that the cancer likely began developing two years prior, coinciding with the onset of Megan’s initial symptoms.
Confronting the Diagnosis with Courage
“Her diagnosis was not entirely unexpected,” Ms. Kelly admitted. “Through online research, I had already begun to suspect it.” Her primary concern shifted to the anticipated gruelling chemotherapy treatment, having personally endured its harsh effects years before. Megan’s reaction to the news, however, was remarkably brave. After an initial emotional response, she quickly refocused, asking, “So what are we going to do about it?”
While there were undoubtedly difficult moments, Megan largely maintained a positive outlook, never succumbing to self-pity. A demanding nine-month chemotherapy regimen, combined with major surgery to remove her cancerous left kidney, initially appeared to control the disease.
Brief Remission and Relapse
In June 2020, Megan received the hopeful news of remission. “We had always understood that she essentially had one shot at treatment, and that if the cancer returned, further options would be limited,” Ms. Kelly stated.
For a short period, Megan experienced renewed optimism. Despite the social isolation imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, she found happiness. Her hair began to regrow, and she regained the ability to walk, though she remained very thin. However, the period of remission was short-lived. A routine scan in August 2020 revealed the devastating signs of relapse.
Facing the Inevitable with Peace
“It was the worst possible news,” Ms. Kelly expressed. “Megan’s cancer was back, and there were no further treatment options. We were told she likely had a year to live.” Incredibly, Megan remained composed. “Despite my resolve to stay strong for her, I broke down,” Ms. Kelly recounted. “But Megan simply turned to me and said: ‘You know what, mum, I’m fine. I’ve been thinking about this moment a lot, and I am at peace with it. I am ready.’”
Megan was placed on low-dose chemotherapy to manage the cancer’s progression, but her condition deteriorated within weeks. “The doctor informed me privately that the treatment was ineffective and that Megan had only a few days left,” Ms. Kelly shared.
Megan’s Legacy: Funding Childhood Cancer Research
Megan passed away at home on December 9, 2020. Since Megan’s passing, her family has been dedicated to honoring her fundraising efforts for pediatric cancer research, raising £26,000 to date.
A significant portion of these funds has been donated to The Institute of Cancer Research, an organization committed to groundbreaking clinical trials aimed at transforming treatment for cancer patients. “Research into childhood cancer is significantly underfunded compared to adult cancers, primarily because fewer children are diagnosed,” Ms. Kelly explained.
“We urgently need to develop gentler, more effective treatments for childhood cancers to improve survival rates,” she emphasized. “My daughter had a full and promising life ahead of her. She was intelligent, beautiful inside and out, and had a wonderful sense of humor. I often reflect on where she would be today. My only solace is the hope that she would be immensely proud of our efforts in her name.”