Teenage girl who had a sore throat and suspected tonsillitis for a year was ACTUALLY battling leukaemia
A TEENAGE girl who was plagued by a sore throat and suspected tonsillitis for a year was actually battling blood cancer.
The family of Ayisha Green were devastated to learn her symptoms were actually a sign of leukaemia.
The 13-year-old lost half her body weight, prompting some to question if she had an eating disorder.
She visited her GP six times, before finally being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia, an aggressive form of blood cancer.
Ayisha is now being treated at Manchester Children's Hospital, where she has just started her second round of chemotherapy.
Mum Jayne, 40, said her daughter's cancer is considered "treatable" but only if the teenager receives a bone marrow transplant.
Desperate to raise awareness among other parents, she said: "We thought it was tonsillitis.
"The last time she had it was in May and we noticed she was losing weight rapidly.
"My partner thought she might have an eating disorder."
The couple took Ayisha to the Blackpool Victoria Hospital for a blood test on June 18.
The next day the teenager was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia, and was transferred to Manchester Children's Hospital.
We thought it was tonsillitis... we noticed she was losing weight rapidly. My partner thought she might have an eating disorder
Jayne, Ayisha's mum
Mum-of-three Jayne, who lives with her family in Blackpool, said: "It was so shocking.
"The first thing she said was 'am I going to lose my hair?' and I said 'yes'.
"I suffer from alopecia so I wear a wig, and she said we could go wig-shopping together.
"I thought she would be upset and crying but she just took it really well.
"All the kids that are in Manchester Hospital are so resilient, it's unbelievable.
"The children are just so strong."
Speaking from hospital today, stepdad James added: "Ayisha's on chemotherapy this morning and feels a bit sick obviously, but usually she's in really good spirits."
Ayisha will now have to undergo a potentially life-saving bone marrow transplant.
Her family hope her brothers Joshua, 17, and Connor, 16, could be a possible match, and the pair are currently being tested.
Jayne said: "My oldest son is 17 and him and Ayisha have always been a bit like chalk and cheese - but since the diagnosis they have become much closer.
"It's definitely brought the children together.
"We're still waiting at the moment and it can be up to two weeks before we find out if one of them is a match, but we know there are other donors out there.
"We thought she was just going to need the chemotherapy and that we would be OK, but within ten minutes of being told she was responding well to the chemotherapy we were told she would need a transplant.
"It could be another eight weeks until she can get out and spend a week or two at home, and then she'll come back for more treatment."
Ayisha, who is continuing her school studies from her hospital bed, said: "When I went to see my local GP she said it was tonsillitis but we didn't think it was because it reoccurred so quickly.
"Then I lost a lot of weight. I would take one bite and then I wasn't hungry. I lost about half my body weight.
MORE ON LEUKAEMIA
"My family have been very supportive.
"Even though me and my brother don't get on, when he found out he cried and I thought I was going to cry at that point."
Jayne added: "I want to let everyone know, if your children are coming down with an infection and it's always the same thing, it might be a sign of something more serious.
"You can see a doctor but it's not every day they take a blood test, which is how we found out about Ayisha.
"Leukaemia can often show itself through tonsillitis because it affects the immune system.
"The prognosis is that it's treatable and they are giving her all the treatment she needs.
"There's a chance it could reoccur but we will cross that bridge if we get to it."
The family's heartbreak comes after another teenager died just one week after being diagnosed with the same form of cancer.
James O'Mara, 13, spent just eight days battling acute myeloid leukaemia, before he passed away.
Learning of James's death after reading about it, another mum, Laura Handley realised her "clumsy" toddler's bruises were actually signs of the same disease.
Little Tazmin was immediately taken to the GP, and referred for tests which showed she too had leukaemia.
WHAT IS LEUKAEMIA?
Leukaemia is a type of blood cancer that affects cells in bone marrow and attacks the immune system.
In most cases of leukaemia, there is no obvious cause.
It leads to the body making too many abnormal white blood cells and means the body is less likely to be able to defend itself against infection.
These blood cells are not fully developed and are called leukaemia cells.
The disease is often classified as what type of cell is affected (myeloid or lymphatic) and how it progresses (acute or chronic).
Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is rapidly progressive and more common in adults.
Symptoms of leukaemia include:
- anaemia
- wekaness and tiredness
- more frequent infections
- fever
- bleeding and bruising
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368
Â