During Amelia’s first set of injections and health check-up when she was eight-weeks-old, her doctor noticed that the right of her abdomen felt harder than the left side, and advised Amelia’s parents, Michaela and Theo, to get an ultrasound scan scheduled. Following various scans and tests at hospital, Amelia was diagnosed with hepatoblastoma.
“Receiving the news that our nine-week-old daughter has a liver tumour was truly heart-breaking. Amelia’s diagnosis was a complete shock as she had no symptoms or showed any signs of being unwell. It all happened so quickly and it’s been incredibly hard to process.”
October is Liver Cancer Awareness Month, which aims to raise awareness and understanding of the disease, as well as show support for people affected by liver cancer.
Hepatoblastoma, an embryonal cancer, and Hepatocellular carcinoma are the two main types of liver tumours in children. Hepatoblastoma is the rarest of the four principal embryonal tumours, and is most likely to be diagnosed in children under three years of age.
Since her diagnosis, Amelia has had surgery to remove two thirds of her liver and has recently completed five cycles of intense chemotherapies. Amelia will soon have another ultrasound scan to monitor the tumour.
Michaela adds: “When you receive a cancer diagnosis, it turns your life upside down and affects everybody in the family. We’re extremely fortunate to have such amazing support, guidance and advice from our loved ones and the caring cancer experts. Amelia was, and still is, a happy baby that is thriving so well despite everything she is having to go through. As a family, we’re taking each day as it comes and strive to be as strong as Amelia has been over these past seven months.”
Children with Cancer UK is one of the leading national children’s charities working towards a world where every child survives cancer.
Jo Elvin, CEO at Children with Cancer UK, said: “We are deeply grateful to Amelia’s family for sharing their story as part of Liver Cancer Awareness Month.
“As a charity, our aim is to help increase awareness and understanding of childhood cancer and fund vital scientific research into better and kinder treatments. Thanks to the efforts of our supporters and fundraisers, this vital work can continue and help to create brighter futures for young cancer patients just like Amelia.”
Survival rates for children’s cancers are improving. Fifty years ago, three-quarters of children diagnosed with cancer died; today more than 8 in 10 children diagnosed with cancer in the UK survive. However, around 4,200 children and young adults are diagnosed with cancer each year in the UK, and cancer is one of the leading causes of death for young people.
For more information about Children with Cancer UK, visit www.childrenwithcancer.org.uk.
