Tragedy takes on a devastatingly different meaning when it could have been prevented. This was tragically the case for Charlotte Simpson and Isabel McEgan, two teenagers who, though unaware of each other, shared a heartbreaking tale: their doctors’ failure to diagnose them with cancer ultimately led to their untimely deaths. Adding to the heartbreak, their concerns were dismissed on the grounds of being “too young” to have cancer, an oversight that proved to be fatal.
Charlotte, a 17-year-old girl from Hampshire, England, started experiencing symptoms in October 2019. She had constipation, along with stomach pain and diarrhea, as reported by the Daily Mail. Despite visiting her GP several times, she was assured that there was nothing to be concerned about.
Charlotte’s symptoms became more severe as she experienced weight loss and began to vomit. Despite this, her GP disregarded her concerns once again. The GP reassured Charlotte that there was nothing to worry about since she was only 17 years old. However, Dr. Sharna Shanmugavedivel, a pediatrician, explained that it can be challenging for GPs to identify cancer in patients of that age since they rarely come across such cases.
Charlotte discovered blood in her stool, which prompted her to undergo testing. The results revealed that she had bowel cancer, which had already metastasized throughout her body. Surrounded by her loved ones – her parents, brother, and boyfriend – Charlotte succumbed to the disease a mere four months after her diagnosis.
Kidney Cancer, Undiagnosed
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In 2018, Isabel began experiencing symptoms. She noticed palpitations and a racing heart, particularly at night. Like Charlotte, she sought help from her GP multiple times as her condition progressed. However, her concerns were brushed off as mere stress. Even when she lost feeling in her chin in February 2019, her GP maintained his initial assessment.
During her vacation in the United States, Isabel experienced facial swelling. Initially, she assumed it was due to a wisdom tooth and had it removed by a dentist in hopes of finding relief. However, to their surprise, the dentist discovered a tumor instead. Upon returning to the UK, further examinations revealed that Isabel was suffering from kidney cancer, which had unfortunately metastasized to various areas of her body, including her jaw, liver, spine, adrenal glands, and pelvis.
In a heartbreaking twist of fate, both Amanda, the mother of Isabel, and Sarah, the mother of Charlotte, tragically lost their daughters to cancer. Isabel’s life came to an end in May 2020, with Charlotte following suit just two weeks later. As their mothers bid them farewell, they exchanged the words “I love you,” to which their daughters responded with a heart-wrenching coincidence, saying, “Love you more.”
Moving Forward
Now, the families of both girls find themselves grappling with the loss of their daughters. The thought of a potential early diagnosis that could have potentially saved their lives will forever haunt them. “It is crucial to detect cancer at an early stage,” emphasized Ashely Ball-Gamble, chief executive of the Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group. Ball-Gamble is collaborating with Charlotte and Isabel’s families to raise awareness about the importance of early detection. As part of their efforts, they have created a poster for general practitioners, highlighting the warning signs that may be encountered during assessments.
According to her, accessing the right information at the right time could be the key. “Once GPs have this poster in front of them, they will have the necessary information to make referrals,” she explained. Dr. Shanmugavadivel also agrees, emphasizing that the poster has the potential to “prompt further investigation or referral.”
Amanda, who is Isabel’s mother, emphasized the advantages of making the poster accessible to all general practitioners. In her words, “Several of Izzy’s symptoms should have been seen as warning signs. Having a poster like this would not only raise awareness but also empower parents to advocate for their children. They could simply point to the symptoms on the poster and say, ‘Look!'”
Both families are hopeful that GPs in the UK will improve their ability to diagnose cancer at an early stage. The use of posters and the implementation of legislation like Jess’s Law, which aims to evaluate cases where patients have repeatedly visited with the same symptoms, can lead to improvements in diagnosis. This, in turn, has the potential to save lives.