'My son, 3, was diagnosed with cancer after something happened to his legs'
A young mum from Cheshire has revealed how her three-year-old son began displaying three key signs of the condition before later going on to be diagnosed with the rare form of cancer
A young boy received a devastating cancer diagnosis after his mum spotted three symptoms showing that something might not be right.
Cole Butchart had been a typical, energetic toddler, until his mum Aimee began to notice a number of physical changes in the youngster when he was three years old.
Over the course of just a few months, Aimee saw her son's condition gradually worsen with the first signs that something might be wrong starting when he began to struggle walking. She recalled: "The first symptom was his legs. He started getting a little bit of a limp and then started complaining of leg pain." But, as is common with children of that age, it was simply put down to "growing pains".
However, as time passed, his health showed no signs of improvement with the mum from Cheshire now starting to notice that he was suffering from a persistent cough. She continued: "And then he had a persistent cough that wouldn't go away and he doesn't cough usually, so that was another symptom which I was concerned about."
While it still remained unclear as to what was actually causing the youngster's ill-health, he was given an inhaler to help try and ease his continuous bouts of coughing, which seemed to ease the issue.
However, it was after the previously playful, three-year-old started to act out of character that Aimee began to grow increasingly concerned. She recalled how he began to lose energy: "And then when he started falling asleep in the day, I was like, this is not like him at all. He was usually the type of child that bounces off the walls."
She added: "So yeah, it wasn't like him at all to fall asleep in the day. He would (normally) be fighting, if I said, let's go and have a little power nap, he would be like 'absolutely not', he wouldn't want one."
After it was eventually discovered that Cole was suffering from Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL), Aimee reflected on how much the four-year-old's life has changed in recent months. He now requires a central line (also known as a Central Venous Catheter) and an NG tube (Nasogastric), which helps provide fluids, medications, or liquid food directly into the digestive system.
She explained: "He has a central line and an NG tube, because he can't take his medication, through his mouth, because it makes him vomit, so he has the NG for that. We've got to help him with bathing and going to the toilet, (it's) literally like starting again with him."
Despite so much upheaval in recent months, Aimee applauded her son for taking it in his stride, saying: "He's had a very big lifestyle change, but he's adapted so well to it, to be fair."
After a very challenging few months for the young family, thanks to a collaboration between Disney and Make-A-Wish, Cole and his family were recently given the opportunity to spend three days away at Hoar Cross Hall, Staffordshire where Cole had the chance to meet all of his favourite Disney characters.
With Aimee sharing their appreciation at the chance to spend some much needed respite, she said: "This was one of his first kind of little holidays that he's going to remember, I think. He was really excited about it, and he's not stopped smiling. He was actually really really upset to come home."
As well as having the chance to meet a whole host of Disney characters during the event, families were also given the opportunity to spend some time with the Strictly Come Dancing star Tasha Ghouri.
The Love Island star, who was born deaf, has partnered with the charity and said the day "was such a beautiful, magical day, that I look back on and feel grateful to be part of".
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Our ‘fit' dad died weeks after we got his diagnosis – his Apple Watch alerted us & a simple question could've saved him
His daughter Lucy says 'medics never connected the dots' and when Alan's diagnosis finally came, it was too late... OUR AGONY Our 'fit' dad died weeks after we got his diagnosis – his Apple Watch alerted us & a simple question could've saved him WHEN Alan Orchard nearly collapsed on a bike ride through the Lancashire hills in 2023, no one imagined he'd be dead just over a year later. But for Alan's children, David and Lucy, yet more heartbreak lies in the belief their dad could have had longer with them, or even still be here now, if just one simple question had been brought up earlier. Advertisement 9 Lucy with her dad Alan, who could've had longer with them if one simple question was asked by medics, the family believes Credit: Joel Goodman/Pancreatic Cancer UK 9 'Fit and healthy' Alan died four weeks after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer Credit: Joel Goodman/Pancreatic Cancer UK 9 Alan's children David and Lucy believe their dad could have been saved Credit: Joel Goodman/Pancreatic Cancer UK 'If the doctors had asked about dad's family history, they'd have found out his sister Judy died of pancreatic cancer 12 years before when she was 60,' David, 35, from Preston, Lancashire, tells Sun Health. 'It could have changed everything.' Advertisement Instead, it took 13 months for the retired council project manager to get a cancer diagnosis from the onset of his first symptoms. And when it finally came, it was too late - Alan died just four weeks later, aged 68. 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Research into the disease has been underfunded for decades, resulting in survival rates that have barely improved in the last 50 years – in stark contrast to other cancers. Due to the vague symptoms associated with the disease and a lack of early detection test, 80 per cent of people aren't diagnosed until after the cancer has spread, meaning they are unable to have lifesaving treatment. Surgery is the only potentially curative treatment for pancreatic cancer yet just 10 per cent of people are eligible for it. It was that day, on June 17, 2024 that he finally got a diagnosis. 'The gastro consultant confirmed pancreatic cancer and that it had spread to his liver but it was all very fast,' David says. 'They booked a biopsy for June 27, but Dad was already deteriorating rapidly.' Lucy, who was waiting with David in her car outside the hospital, recalls: 'I was beside myself when I saw them both. 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Alan suddenly took a serious turn. 9 Alan suffered violent hiccups, caused by the tumour blocking his duodenum - part of the small intestine Credit: Joel Goodman/Pancreatic Cancer UK 9 You can't turn a blind eye to any symptoms, says Lucy Credit: Joel Goodman/Pancreatic Cancer UK Because he was so dehydrated, medics gave him an IV drip, not realising at this point his tumour had caused a blockage. Advertisement When Alan returned home, he started being violently sick because of all the fluids he'd been given, and his hiccups were so severe, Lucy says, 'it was like he was fitting'. After returning to hospital, on July 15, in agonising pain doctors fitted a stent to unblock his duodenum, in the hope that if it was successful he could begin chemotherapy. The next day, it was the Euro Cup final which will forever remain a bittersweet memory for David. 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The Independent
2 days ago
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