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Mom's Worst Nightmare: Daughter's Cancer Incurable
7 Feb
Summary
- A six-year-old girl's brain tumor returned after initial treatment.
- Doctors have placed her on palliative care, stating the cancer is terminal.
- A US trial offers a glimmer of hope for a potential new treatment.
A mother from Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, is enduring profound grief as her six-year-old daughter, Olivia, has received a terminal cancer diagnosis. Initially believed to have heat stroke in May 2024, Olivia's symptoms progressed to vomiting and extreme fatigue, leading to an A&E visit on June 17, 2024. Doctors identified potential brain tumor symptoms, including unsteadiness and facial asymmetry.
Further tests, including an MRI on June 18, 2024, confirmed a grade three medulloblastoma, a highly aggressive childhood brain tumor, which had also spread to her spine. Olivia underwent surgery to remove 95% of the tumor and subsequently received chemotherapy and radiotherapy. She was declared cancer-free in June 2025, but the tumor recurred by September 2025.
Now, Olivia is under palliative care with a grim prognosis. Her mother expressed devastation, stating she was told treatment would likely only slow the cancer. The family is exploring a potential trial in the US scheduled for March, which encourages cancer cell differentiation rather than multiplication. A fundraiser has been initiated to cover potential costs, with £3,036 raised towards a £5,000 goal.
