Ruby, 18, died after her tumours were missed SEVEN times by SIX doctors. That's why the teen cancer death toll is rising because so many GPs dismiss these key warning signs...
Daily MailIt is a question any parent would dread to even consider. But as she sat face-to-face with the GP, Ruby Fuller’s mother summoned all of her courage and asked the doctor outright: ‘Could it be cancer?’ For weeks, her daughter – a normally fit and lively 17-year-old – had been becoming more unwell, with a growing list of troubling symptoms. Although her case is shocking, experts warn that similar cases are all too common – and that even though progress has been made in treating cancer in the young, there are still ‘unacceptable’ delays in diagnosing the disease, partly because GPs are struggling to identify key warning signs. ‘What is needed is far better awareness of the symptoms of childhood cancer among both the public and healthcare professionals, including GPs.’ So why are some GPs apparently struggling to spot cancers in children? An NHS spokesman said: ‘NHS England extends its deepest sympathies to the family of Ruby Fuller, and is working hard to ensure every child with cancer receives a prompt diagnosis and high-quality care.’
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