What rare cancer did Bonnie-Leigh Spence have?

Bonnie-Leigh Spence was diagnosed with rhabdoid sarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of childhood cancer.

How was Bonnie-Leigh's cancer initially treated?

Bonnie-Leigh's arm pain was first thought to be a sprain. After diagnosis, she underwent amputation of most of her left arm, followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

What is the family doing to create memories for Bonnie-Leigh?

Bonnie-Leigh's family launched a fundraising campaign to create precious final memories and experiences for her, including trips and special events.

Home / Health / Girl, 6, Given Weeks to Live After Cancer Misdiagnosed

Girl, 6, Given Weeks to Live After Cancer Misdiagnosed

1 Feb

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Summary

Child given weeks to live after rare cancer diagnosis.
Arm pain was initially dismissed as a simple sprain.
Family fundraising for final memories and experiences.

Girl, 6, Given Weeks to Live After Cancer Misdiagnosed

A six-year-old girl named Bonnie-Leigh Spence faces a grim prognosis, with doctors estimating she has only weeks to live due to a rare cancer. Her family states that initial complaints of arm pain were dismissed as a sprain by medical professionals. However, a subsequent visit and scan revealed a tumor, leading to a devastating diagnosis of rhabdoid sarcoma in February 2025.

This rare cancer, affecting approximately eight children annually in the UK, necessitated the amputation of most of Bonnie-Leigh's left arm. Despite undergoing an intense 28-week course of chemotherapy and two weeks of radiotherapy to shrink lung tumors, the treatment proved unsuccessful.

Recent scans in late 2025 and early 2026 showed the tumors have returned and are growing rapidly. Doctors have indicated that Bonnie-Leigh has received the maximum chemotherapy dosage, and the cancer is expected to reach its peak momentum around mid-March 2026, leaving her family with an estimated eight weeks.