SLEEP SIGNS
Doctors blamed Bebe’s tiredness on ‘anaemia’ but I knew something was wrong – it was stage 4 cancer
After multiple blood tests with no answers, Bebe’s mum demanded the results and helped uncovered her daughter’s diagnosis
WHEN doctors dismissed 13-year-old Bebe’s tiredness as anaemia, her mum had a gut feeling there must be a more serious explanation.
“She had gone from being a really full-on teenager to feeling rubbish in a relatively small amount of time, and we had a bit of a battle," Anne-Marie Brown, said.
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Bebe, from Ascot, had a busy life, playing netball, hockey and golf at county level.
But during the October half-term, she started getting really tired.
“She was just exhausted," her mum said.
"Even on Christmas Day in the afternoon, she was asleep, and we thought she was just being a hormonal teenager."
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Anne-Marie took Bebe to doctors, who suspected she had anaemia, a common condition caused by a lack of iron in the blood.
They ran some blood tests in January, which suggested she had a low iron count, and prescribed some iron tablets to treat it.
Doctors assured the mum that "everything else was fine", but the teen still didn’t improve.
"She was also incredibly itchy, and she was just not a happy bunny,"; her mum said.
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“Then she started getting this ringing in her ears and jaw pain so she wouldn't make a full day at school.
“I knew something was wrong with my daughter, so I refused to give up and demanded further tests.”
Two signs of cancer that could be mistaken for cold weather symptoms - and when to see a GP
Anne-Marie also tried dentists and osteopaths but nothing made any difference.
After multiple blood tests and still no improvement, she decided to take matters into her own hands, demanding a printout of the blood test results and starting to investigate herself.
Anne-Marie said: “I started Googling and noticed that Bebe had this ESR rate that was through the roof.
"I thought, 'oh my god, something is really wrong’."
ESR, which stands for erythrocyte sedimentation rate, measures how quickly red blood cells settle in a test tube, showing the level of inflammation in the body.
High ESR can indicate serious conditions, so the family chose to see a private doctor.
When the medic saw Bebe she confirmed that Anne-Marie’s instincts had been correct.
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“The GP took one look at Bebe and made an appointment for her the next day for X-rays and scans,” she explained.
Once Bebe went for the scans, she was told she had to go to A&E immediately where she was admitted.
It was at this stage that the family were told she had stage four Hodgkin's Lymphoma, leaving them in deep shock.
Anne-Marie, who lost her mum to cancer when she was in her early 20s, said they were very aware of the disease, but their daughter’s diagnosis still caught them off guard.
“As soon as we got the diagnosis everything else in our lives was on hold and we were all in survival mode.
“Bebe had to have intense treatment because it was stage four, including chemotherapy and steroids, and medication that left her in a wheelchair for some time.
“We were living from one treatment to the next, we were going month by month.”
What is Hodgkin lymphoma?
What is Hodgkin lymphoma?
It is not common, with around 2,100 people diagnosed every year in the UK.
Like all cancers, symptoms vary and can be vague. However, patients usually notice swelling in one or more lymph nodes.
This can be in any area of the body, but is often in the neck, armpit or groin.
The swelling is usually painless, although some people find that it aches.
Some people with Hodgkin lymphoma also have other more general symptoms. These can include:
- Night sweats
- Unintentional weight loss
- A high temperature (fever)
- A persistent cough or feeling of breathlessness
- Persistent itching of the skin all over the body
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Despite what she was going through, Bebe channelled all her grit and determination to make sure she kept moving and motivated.
“Even when she was having chemotherapy, Bebe wanted to do something to help others affected by cancer, so she and her friends went on to raise over £10,000 by taking part in Race For Life," Anne-Marie said.
"It’s a day we’ll never forget."
Thankfully, Bebe is now cancer-free.
“She’s doing PE for her GCSEs, and is playing netball regularly,” Anne-Marie explained.
“She's not where she was, but she’s a hell of a lot better than before.”
Anne-Marie is glad she trusted her gut.
She is keen to spread the word about lymphoma, and to tell other parents that they should always trust their instincts and push for their children to be seen for any unusual symptoms.
“Bebe had all the symptoms: itching, intense tiredness, night sweats,” Anne-Marie adds.
“I knew something was wrong. I don't blame anyone, but I hope that others can learn from our story.
“To other parents who may be going through the same thing, keep pushing.
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“I think, ‘oh my god, if I hadn't been that vaguely annoying woman, it would have taken even longer to get her diagnosed’.
“Have confidence in yourself and if you know something's not right, don't be afraid to ask questions or get a second opinion.”
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Risks and causes of cancer in children
The risk factors for children's cancers is not fully understood.
This is because this group of cancers are rare and there are lots of different types, making it difficult for researchers to study.
There are some known risk factors that can increase the risk of a child developing cancer.
These include:
- Medical conditions - for example, children with Down's syndrome are 10 to 20 times more likely to get leukaemia than other children.
- Genetics
- Problems with development in the womb
- Exposure to infections - in rare cases, infection with Epstein Barr virus (a common infection in young children that can cause glandular fever) can contribute to the development of cancers.
- Exposure to radiation
- Previous cancer treatments
Source: Cancer Research UK
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