Girl dies of rare cancer after parents spotted sign as she brushed her teeth
Beth Phelps sadly died from a rare form of cancer after her parents noticed something was wrong with her shoulder. Her father, Ben, is raising awareness about the symptoms
A "healthy little girl" tragically died from a rare form of cancer after her parents spotted something strange on her shoulder as she brushed her teeth.
Beth Phelps, 12, from Jersey, was getting ready for bed when her parents Ben and Aby noticed a "protruding lump", which was visible from under her shirt. Their world was "tipped upside down" after tests revealed that their daughter had a 7cm tumour on her left lung.
Beth was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma at Jersey General Hospital, which is an aggresive cancer. The schoolgirl endured chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy which led to her being given the all clear. Sadly, it returned nine months later on her right lung and she later died on October 3, 2022.
Speaking about the ordeal, Ben, 48, said: "Our world in the blink of an eye was completely tipped upside down. She had no symptoms that stood out. Beth was a healthy little girl. But she took all the treatment in her stride, despite being terrified of needles.
"When we were told her cancer had come back, we were shocked and heartbroken." HR director Ben is cycling from Land's End, Cornwall, to John O'Groats, Caithness, Scotland, to raise money for the Bone Cancer Research Trust (BCRT). He added: "We'd never heard of Ewing sarcoma before - that's why I'm trying to raise as much money as I can, so we can find kinder treatments to help more people survive.
'Beth is my guiding light and inspiration always; this might be a tough physical challenge, but doesn't compare to anything she endured. We miss Beth every day, and we are determined to make a difference in her name."
They spotted the first lump in December 2020, prompting her GP to send them to A&E Jersey General Hospital, where Beth was given a CT scan, x-ray and MRI. On Christmas Day 2020, Beth began her first of four rounds of chemotherapy. In May 2021, Beth underwent surgery to remove the tumour and the entire left scapula at Stanmore Hospital.
Back at Southampton General Hospital, Beth received three more rounds of chemo before she underwent six weeks of radiotherapy at University College London Hospitals. "This was agonising as a parent to watch," Ben said. "The nursing and play staff were amazing at helping to keep her calm, but nothing prepares you for some of the procedures that take place in order to give treatment."
After nine months of treatment, Beth was cancer-free and returned home, however, in June 2022, Beth started to experience pain in her right shoulder. The pain increased and an x-ray revealed that the cancer had returned to Beth's right shoulder.
Ben said: "We had to make a decision whether to put Beth through a clinical trial which meant more time away in hospitals and the possibility of never seeing home again. We chose palliative care and set out to make her time left as comfortable as possible, giving her the dignity and love that she so truly deserved. She took her last breath surrounded by me, Aby, the dog and our cat, Monkey. Beth was funny, quick-witted and beautiful, She is with me forever and especially on this challenge."
Ben's cycling challenge will commence from June 22 to July 5. Louise Everett, senior regional relationship manager at the BCRT said: 'This is an incredibly inspiring challenge that Ben is taking on. We're grateful that people like Ben want to keep raising vital funds and awareness so no other family has to go through what they went through.'
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