Parents’ anger after their boy, 2, is diagnosed with stage four cancer after ‘doctors originally said lump was just a bump on the head’
Family of little Charlie Round claim his cancer would have been easier to treat if he had been diagnosed earlier
A TOT's tumour was repeatedly misdiagnosed as a BUMP on the head, claim his distraught parents.
Little Charlie Round is currently fighting for his life in hospital because of a grapefruit-sized tumour in his stomach and another malignant growth in his head.
After being told their child was healthy by doctos on three separate occasions, his parents Rachel, 28, and Ashley, 32, finally demanded an ultrasound scan which revealed Charlie had a 12cm by 6cm tumour in his stomach.
Doctors also discovered he had a 7cm by 3cm tumour on the right side of his head.
Today, mum Rachel says she believes if Charlie had been diagnosed earlier then his cancer might have been easier to treat.
She said: "Charlie had been suffering with a viral infection and we noticed the lump and took him to A&E.
"They diagnosed him with an irritable hip and didn't seem concerned about his head, they said he must have banged it as toddlers do.
"When we were back in the hospital two weeks later one of the senior doctors said the lump was insignificant and to come back in two or three weeks.
The diagnosis was given on July 6 and this is when our whole world fell apart.
Rachel
"Luckily a junior doctor said she would be happy to arrange an ultrasound for our peace of mind.
"After that we were told he needed an emergency MRI scan but the consultant booked it in as routine so
it would have been a three-week wait if I hadn't chased it up.
"The diagnosis was given on July 6 and this is when our whole world fell apart.
"If they had done a blood test when we first took him in they would have noticed he had an infection in his blood and done further tests."
She added: "It is crazy that it was misdiagnosed for four weeks. It is an aggressive cancer, it forms really
quickly so those weeks are crucial.
"The service since he has been admitted has been really good but it's the misdiagnosis that has annoyed us.
"We feel like we had to push for the ultrasound and it would have been weeks if we hadn't asked for it.
"If only he had been diagnosed earlier he would not now be at stage four.
"It could possibly be at a lower stage where the treatment is much less aggressive and dangerous for our little boy and the outcome would be much more favourable."
Rachel and her husband Ashley rushed their son to hospital on June 5 after noticing a lump on the side of his head.
The toddler was unable to support himself, but when he was seen by doctors 11 hours later, they said he had "probably just bumped his head".
A week later the couple took Charlie to their local GP but were reassured he was healthy.
She returned to the GP on June 20 after noticing the lump had grown in size her doctor told her to go to the Queen's Hospital in Burton-upon-Trent, Staffs.
After being examined, a senior doctor told the couple, the bump on Charlie's head was "insignificant" and to come back in a fortnight.
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Charlie finally had an MRI scan on July 6 and his parents were given the devastating news that Charlie had neuroblastoma, a rare cancer of the nerve cells.
The brave tot, who has been in Birmingham Children's Hospital since the diagnosis, will now have 12 months of gruelling treatment as he battles the stage four cancer.
Charlie faces chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery and immunotherapy as he battles the rare cancer - which affects just 80 to 100 children in the UK each year.
Rachel has had to give up her admin job and self-employed window fitter Ashley has stopped work while they look after Charlie and his seven-year-old sister Olivia.
The little boy is bravely battling stage four cancer at a children's hospital in Birmingham
Dad Ashley said: "Neuroblastoma only affects 80 to 100 children in Britain each year so it is rare.
"But we are fuming with the doctors who originally told us he was had just bumped his head.
"We desperately need to make everybody aware of the symptoms of this awful disease.
"In the last week we have met two other families in Birmingham Children's Hospital with the same illness.
"Both were seriously misdiagnosed when a simple blood test could have made all the
difference as to whether to continue with other tests that would have led to doctors diagnosing neuroblastoma."
Rachel and Ashley have been told the success rate of Charlie's six-step treatment plan is between 45 and 50 per cent.
The toddler was yesterday undergoing more scans to see if the cancer had spread to his bones.
Rachel, who lives with Ashley and their two children in Measham, Leics., said is now urging other parents to demand second opinions from medics.
She added: "Our baby boy was a fun-loving and happy child and he suddenly changed.
"We knew he hadn't knocked his head. He had been very clingy to me the previous day and would not let me put him down.
"There was no bruising, no blood, no indication that there was any form of impact apart from the size of this lump.
"We want to raise awareness for other parents who might not be pushy and might trust the doctors.
"Parents need to ask for the tests for childhood cancer first and not take no for an answer.
"If this information were to help just one little baby be diagnosed earlier than this, it would be well worth it."
The family have set up a Facebook page to keep people informed about Charlie's progress and friends have set up a JustGiving page to try and raise £20,000.
The current total on the , which was set up by friend Tom Parker, stood at £11,250.
Paula Gardner, chief nurse at Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The Trust would welcome the opportunity to meet with the family of this patient to discuss their experience at Burton Hospitals.
“This will help us to better understand any aspect of the care which they perceive to be below the standard we would expect for our patients.”
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