My 2 year old daughter Autumn presented with a small lump in her right eye in February this year. After being misdiagnosed 3 times in May Autumn finally had a CT scan at this point the lump covered her whole eye. We were then given a diagnosis of NF1 a condition that causes benign tumours to grow in any part of her body which can cause complications. Other issues that come from the condition include learning disabilities, hyperactivity, abnormal bone growth, cafe au late marks and epilepsy. Depending on where the tumours are depends on what issues are caused. Another complication is that NF1 gives you a 15% higher rate of getting cancer. We were told to attend the RVI the next day and Autumn would have a biopsy to confirm this tumour was definitely a benign one due to the NF1. 

We were called back to the RVI earlier than expected and we were then told Autumn was medically diagnosed with NF1 due to a tumours also seen in her brain and her optical nerve from the CT scan, cafe au late marks and one of her legs had grown longer than the other. We were then told that the tumour in her eye was not benign and that it was cancerous. Autumn was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma. We then went through a week of gruelling tests to see if it had spread anywhere else in Autumns body including her bone marrow and bones. Luckily no other traces of cancer could be found in the rest of her body and she was officially diagnosed with a standard Embroyonal Rhabdomyosarcoma. 

Since then we were asked if we would like Autumn to be enlisted onto the FAR-RMS trial which meant they could deviate from the normal treatment to see if they can improve the treatement for children with Rhabdomyosarcoma. She has had 4 cycles of chemotherapy to date and is now undergoing proton radiotherapy in Manchester for just under 6 weeks which is a 2 and a half hour travel from our hometown.

Autumns cancer and condition are rare. Shes been discussed at more panels with various consultants than I care to remember to decide what is best for her. The worry is that whilst her treatment is curing this cancer the side effect of treatments we have now is that it can cause cancer again. You can use Google to look into side effects from chemotherapy and radiotherapy to see what these children go through during each treatment. Autumn alone from chemotherapy has had 2 blood transfusions and an infection. Nevermind the canulas she had to endure, scans and having surgery for a biopsy and for her hickman line to be fitted. From the proton radiotherapy she has sore skin around her eye and sickness so far.

My child and all other children with cancer deserve better than this. They deserve a guaranteed future and a future without any issues from the treatment they have had. This is why funding and more research is needed. Thank you to anyone that reads our story and that donates. We can never express how grateful we are 💛

This September, during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, I'm taking on The Virtual Gold Ribbon Run for Children with Cancer UK.Children with Cancer UK actively raise and invest money for vital specialist research to save the lives of every child with cancer and keep their family together. 12 children and young people are diagnosed with cancer every day in the UK. By taking part in this challenge, I am helping more children and young people ring their End of Treatment bell.