When Amelia was born she was a healthy weight of 8lbs 3oz and all of her bloods and tests were absolutely fine. She was a thriving baby doing all the right things. The diagnosis was a complete shock and such devastating news for the rest of the family.
A family from Birmingham is supporting Children with Cancer UK, to help raise awareness following daughter Amelia’s cancer diagnosis.
Amelia Stephens was diagnosed with hepatoblastoma, a type of liver cancer, at just nine weeks old in March 2023. Parents, Michaela and Theo, wanted to support Children with Cancer UK to help raise awareness of childhood cancer as Amelia showed no signs of being unwell. They hope that sharing Amelia’s story will help other families going through a cancer diagnosis.
Michaela comments:
At just nine weeks, Amelia was diagnosed with the devastating news of a liver tumour called hepatoblastoma: the most heart-breaking news we have ever had to face as a family.
When Amelia was born she was a healthy weight of 8lbs 3oz and all of her bloods and tests were absolutely fine. She was a thriving baby doing all the right things. The diagnosis was a complete shock and such devastating news for the rest of the family. We are a very tight unit as a family and I am so grateful myself and my husband have this love and support around us.
We want to raise awareness of childhood cancer for any baby or child as Amelia showed no signs of being unwell or having any symptoms. If it wasn’t for our GP who did Amelia’s first checks and jabs, we don’t know when this would have been picked up. We are so grateful she referred us to the children’s hospital.
Once Amelia had been diagnosed with hepatoblastoma she had a central line put in. Within that week, her consultant had a six month plan of three different chemotherapies to shrink the cancer, and then to have surgery to remove it. Amelia had her surgery at the end of July and they removed two thirds of her liver.
Hepatoblastomas, a type of embryonal tumour, is the most common type of liver cancer and affects up to 20 children in the UK each year.
Children with Cancer UK is sharing the inspiring story of Amelia in order to help raise awareness towards liver cancer in children.
The charity’s ‘12 Groups of Cancer’ programme is a series of short films which aim to help raise awareness and understanding of the 12 groups of childhood and young adult cancer types. The videos give a unique insight into each type of cancer, with the information and support parents need if their child has been diagnosed.
Michaela continues:
Amelia is thriving so well now. She’s come to the end of her one year remission and everything is clear. She absolutely loves the outdoors, now she can play and have fun! We are all doing really well too. Amelia recently celebrated her second birthday and enjoyed a family holiday to Jamaica.
Children with Cancer UK is the leading national children’s charity working towards a world where every child survives cancer. The charity funds a number of research projects focused on liver cancer in children.
Dr. Sultana Choudhry, Head of Research at Children with Cancer UK, said:
We would like to thank Amelia’s family for sharing their inspirational story, and helping us to increase understanding of the profound impact cancer can have on young people and their families.
As a charity, it is our mission to fund vital research into cancers affecting children and young adults, support families and raise awareness. Our 12 Groups of Cancer films are an important part of our ongoing awareness work, and we hope they help parents feel better prepared and informed during their child’s cancer journey.
Survival rates for children’s cancers are improving. Fifty years ago, three-quarters of children diagnosed with cancer did not survive; today more than eight in 10 children diagnosed with cancer in the UK survive. However, every year, there are around 3,755 young people diagnosed with cancer in the UK, and cancer is one of the leading causes of death for young people.
Notes to Editors:
About Children with Cancer UK:
Children with Cancer UK is the leading children and young people’s cancer charity in the UK. Our vision is for every child and young person to survive cancer. We are working to improve survival rates and the long-term quality of life for those that do, we are also striving to find ways to prevent cancer in the future. We are dedicated to raising and investing funds into vital research that helps us understand childhood cancers and improves treatments. We support families as they navigate treatment and life beyond cancer. What began as a small memorial charity in 1988, has evolved into the leading charity for children and young people affected by cancer, raising more than £300 million and investing in over 300 pioneering research projects.
Press Enquiries:
For all press enquiries, please email media@childrenwithcancer.org.uk or call 0800 222 9000 and ask for the media team.
