The devastated mother of her 2-year-old daughter was able to correctly diagnose her rare liver cancer six years before the doctors said it was constipation.
Louise Millward (34), from Inkberrow in Worcestershire noticed Grace lost her appetite, and she was tired more than usual last May.
Two-year-old daughter was taken by the mother-of-two to her GP. She referred her to Worcestershire Royal Hospital where she was diagnosed with leukemia. Constipation and appendicitis.
Before being discharged, she was seen at Birmingham Children’s Hospital. Grace’s health was continuing to decline, and Louise observed that Grace began losing balance and becoming sick.
Louise was alerted to Grace’s swelling stomach in October, five months after her doctors had given her the all-clear. She rushed Grace back to the hospital.
Additional tests showed that her liver was inflamed. She was then diagnosed with Hepatoblastoma. This rare form of cancer affects only one percent of one million children.
Louise Millward, 34-years old, is from Inkberrow (Worcestershire). She correctly diagnosed Grace, her daughter, with rare liver carcinoma by going online. Grace was pictured getting treatment at Birmingham Children’s Waterfall House.
Grace prior to her diagnosis of liver cancer. Grace’s mother Louise noticed in May that Grace was less hungry and more tired than her normal.
Louise blasted doctors for claiming that her six-month old daughter’s battle with cancer was untreated.
She stated that doctors had reassured her that constipation was the cause and that she just assumed that everything was fine.
“Because she is so uncommon in having children, I’m angry that it wasn’t missed.
“The tumour was approximately 14cm long when it was discovered.
It is huge for a toddler aged 23 to find a liver measuring 14cm long. This is the reason it protruded from her stomach.
“Had it been properly picked up in May, it might not have been so big. It could have been solved on a slightly other avenue.
Louise Millward, 35, is shown with Grace Millward, two years old. Grace was found to have hepatoblastoma (a rare form of liver cancer), after her scans showed a tumor measuring 14cm.
Grace Grace (34-years old) is the son of an agricultural contractor and Louise. They were afraid doctors would misdiagnose their daughter who claimed she was constipated or had appendicitis.
Louise (34-year-old agriculture contractor) and Don became worried that doctors might have misdiagnosed the daughter of their partner. She kept falling, which led to Don becoming concerned.
According to her, “After we returned home, she had several incidents with falling over, vomiting and sickness.
“These events were occurring from May through October. She was extremely ill during all of that.
We thought it was a virus.
“Then, one night as I was giving her bath, I noticed that she had a vein running across her stomach. This is something I’d never seen before.
Grace is receiving treatment for liver cancer. Six months after her initial symptoms, Grace received the heartbreaking news that her health had continued to decline.
Grace had incidents of her falling over, vomiting, sickness, lack of interest after doctors sent her home from hospital treated for constipation. This was Grace before she received treatment
Grace continues her stay in Birmingham Children’s Waterfall House. Louise took Grace into hospital to undergo further testing.
Grace’s liver had become extremely large, protruding from her chest. This was after she was examined by the Worcestershire Royal Hospital.
“Her veins and blood vessels had to be brought to the surface by pressure,”
Louise brought Grace to hospital, 25 Oct 2020. In the meantime, they were referred by Worcestershire Royal Hospital.
Louise explained that the doctors informed her her liver was very enlarged. This was all she could show me.
“The vein mapping measured the pressure on her arteries caused by the tumour. The hospital admitted us for further investigations.
“I searched Grace’s symptoms on Google and it indicated it was most likely cancer.
“While the doctors were unable to give a diagnosis they continued their investigations. However, they said it was possible that hepatoblastoma had been identified.
Grace before she was diagnosed. In an effort to shrink her tumour, Grace is currently receiving aggressive radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Grace spends Christmas at home with her family after she has been released from aggressive radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment
“It was a tumor, but they couldn’t tell me how it spread. All that followed was so quick.
“They performed a CAT scan and MRIs, as well as biopsies.
Her parents (who also had a son Jack) received the terrible news last November 2, that she was suffering from cancer.
Louise stated, “We were shocked and not devastated.”
“Her right lung collapsed, she suffered a liver injury and had her hemoglobin level drop right to the bottom.
Grace will now undergo aggressive radiotherapy and chemotherapy in an effort to shrink the tumor.
Grace’s parents (also having son Jack) received the terrible news on November 2, 2013 that Grace had been diagnosed with cancer.
Grace was signed up for a clinical study that will examine the toxicities and effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs in her treatment for rare liver cancer. Image of Grace receiving treatment
Louise said, “We have signed up for a clinical study that examines the toxicities of chemotherapy drugs in order to treat this type of cancer.”
Grace also shows the signs of a hepatocellular cancer tumour – that is, a mass outside her liver. However it’s not a serious malignant tumor.
“At December’s end, there was a 13% reduction in the size of our tumours. Now, the surgeons will decide on what to do next.
“We don’t know what the future holds, but chemotherapy is shrinking our tumours.
Grace is receiving a transplant or resection to remove the cancerous tissue. According to the surgeons, she will survive with one-third of her liver.
After setting up a GoFundme Page with a £750 target, the family have received £5,815 in donations from well-wishers.
Grace will get a new bedroom and family holidays thanks to donations.