The start of Caroline’s rhabdomyosarcoma story
A cancer diagnosis is a life-changing event for all families. Caroline had been unwell for six months but we never considered it was cancer. She’d lost her appetite, complaining occasionally of earache. She developed a lump under her left ear but the pain was never enough to call the doctor.
In January 2017, the GP diagnosed a swollen gland, and prescribed antibiotics for an ear infection. After four further visits, a pencil-like lump developed on Caroline’s tongue, I exploded on February 27. Caroline had suffered a weekend of agony.
During a 12-minute conversation persuading the GP to see Caroline, the doctor asked about my concerns. I nearly screamed “A brain tumour or leukaemia” but Caroline was close so I waffled about mumps, glandular fever and trigeminal neuralgia. Caroline’s lips had developed pins and needles that morning. Finally, she had blood tests. Looking back I knew it was cancer from the moment we entered the hospital. Nothing has been the same since.
![young girl in bed holding a stuffed animal](https://www.childrenwithcancer.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Cuddling-bear-March-2017-around-diagnosis-time-Caroline-Brown-v2-305x285.jpg)