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SAVED: Ethan with his mum Tracy
BATTLER: Ethan during treatment
HAPPY: Ethan now
THIS brave little boy is one of the youngest to get testicular cancer - and he only survived because his mum REFUSED to listen to doctors who said there was nothing wrong.
Tracy Goodbrand kept fighting for 13-month-old Ethan to see a specialist despite being repeatedly told a lump she found was just harmless fluid by her HEALTH VISITOR, her DOCTOR and HOSPITAL MEDICS.
And when her GP finally arranged an appointment FIVE MONTHS away she kept on battling, knowing every day counted for her son.
"It just wasn't good enough. I was worried sick about him but I was made to feel like an over-anxious mum," says Tracy, 27.
Her persistence paid off when Ethan was fast-tracked up the waiting list. And when he was finally allowed to see a specialist Tracy and husband Graham, 29, had their worst suspicions confirmed - scans showed the lump was a tumour.
"The doctors were astonished - and so were we," said Tracy. "We never thought someone could have this so young.
"And they said it was aggressive too, which was terrifying." The disease normally affects males from 15 to 34. Only a handful of children under nine are diagnosed each year.
Tracy and Graham were told there was a 90 per cent recovery rate if it was detected early - but that it could have spread quickly if it had gone unchecked.
Then they faced six months of anguish as their little boy underwent gruelling chemotherapy.
"Ethan was so sick during the treatment," says Tracy. "It was heartbreaking to watch. All I could do was cuddle him as he whimpered. "I kept asking the doctors whether he would die, and they couldn't tell us whether he was going to make it through or not." But Ethan fought through and got the all-clear, his chances of survival having been boosted by his battling mum. "I'd noticed the lump when I was changing his nappy," says Tracy who also has a 13-week-old son Oliver.
"The health visitor said not to worry but I took him to the GP. He said it would disappear.
"But as the days went by the lump didn't go away and I started to get more and more worried about it."
So determined Tracy, of Glasgow, took Ethan back. "They still insisted at the surgery that it was fluid so I took him to hospital," she says. "But I was just sent home again and made to feel as though I was overreacting."
Urgent
In desperation, she went BACK to her GP who referred her to Yorkhill Sick Children's Hospital. "They said it would be five months before we got an appointment, but I wasn't having that," says Tracy.
"So I went back to the doctor and asked for him to be fasttracked as an urgent case. He did that and a few days later we went to the hospital for the tests that showed Ethan had cancer."
Ethan will now to have regular check-ups - but his parents have been told the worst is over. Tracy says: "We feel very lucky and I'm just so glad I kept taking him back again and again.
"Now he has so much energy it's hard to believe he was so ill."
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This article has 10 comments
This proves that the medical professionals are not always right!! they say "Mother Knows Best" and this has certainly proved it too.. All the best for the future and God Bless you all and I hope that the future looks much brighter for you and that future tests continue to come back clear..
I also think in order for this not to happen again that there should be a investigation.
By Mrs Conn.. Posted November 14 2009 at 5:21 PM.
Hi, my 21 month old son has an enlarge testicle he has had 3 days of antibotics as the doctors thinks its epididymitis. It has been 5 days a and he has not improved our doctor told us the chances of it being cancer are extremely low but is book in for an ultrasound next week.. I don't know what Id do if this happened to my little man Id love to know the full story meaning what other symptoms he had and what tests where done.. Good on you mum for not taking no!
I had to do that with my 4 month old 2 months ago over another issue and by pushing I finally got an answer and an outcome.
By pamela.. Posted October 26 2009 at 7:41 AM.
You went with your instints and have won for your son. Best of luck to you all. You have the true mothers insinct.
By shirley.. Posted June 21 2009 at 7:21 PM.
well done mum !!
By ellen.. Posted June 21 2009 at 6:44 PM.
Arent doctors useless fullstop. They get paid a ridiculous amount of money and diagnose you from what they've read in a textbook. Genius.
By Shannon.. Posted June 21 2009 at 5:00 PM.
Doctors do make you feel like your over reacting and they know best? Doctors ar not always right?
In your case you have not only proved this but have saved your boys life.
If you had listened to the doctor we may not be reading the same story here? if in doubt keep going back to your Doctors until your are happy with the outcome or the situation improves.
I am very please you little boy is now well again and your story here will help others in simular situations to challenge if they are not happy.
We are talking about a young childs life here!
Best Wishes
Chriso
By Chriso.. Posted June 21 2009 at 12:54 PM.
The GP's/hospital staff involved and Health Visitor should be made to apologise in my opinion. God forbid that she had listened and not taken things further and the unthinkable happened to poor little Ethan, they'd have been an investigation, they'd have probably got sacked and then tried to sue for unfair dismissal as we're now seeing with the Baby P situation.
By Corri.. Posted June 21 2009 at 9:48 AM.
Well done......too many parents get turned away and get called "over anxious"! You will be an inspiration to all those who know their children and get turned away by overworked gp.s. The message here is clear, if you know deep down inside that something is not right with your child, keep fighting to get the answer and never give up, eventually a door will open. What a wonderful result after such a battle. Also although we have a wonderful health service compared to some less prosperous nations, please please gp.s understand that as parents we only want the best for our children as you do but you need to take our concerns for their health as real and not the machinations of over active minds........... that is why you got into this profession in the first place and for that we are grateful.
By Tracey.. Posted June 21 2009 at 12:48 AM.
What a beautiful little lad..Bless him.
By Tracy.. Posted June 21 2009 at 12:13 AM.
Good for you - your actions have saved your son's life. A mother's intuition is a very powerful thing - always listen to that inner strength of yours - it's served you well so far!
So delighted that your son is doing well now - you are both completely inspirational.
By Maria.. Posted June 20 2009 at 11:45 PM.