Toddler's cancer symptoms 'dismissed' as constipation until mum insisted on further tests

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The family of a toddler with cancer claim they were initially told she was suffering with constipation and say they had to insist on further testing.A hospital investigation has now been launched into the care of little Ella Formby-Smith, three, who is currently undergoing chemotherapy.Mum Claire Formby, 38, said the heartbreaking diagnosis of stage four neuroblastoma - a rare and aggressive cancer - came after she was checked over by doctors three separate times.The NHS worker, from Runcorn, said she feels let down by the care her daughter received, the Liverpool Echo reports.She said: "We’ve been told she could have been born with this.

I'm just feeling so let down with the number of times we’ve been back and forth.“I just can't get my head around how it’s not been detected in three years of going to hospital with stomach problems.

She’s been diagnosed as lactose and dairy intolerant and every other time we’ve been we were told its constipation or a viral infection."Ella is now undergoing chemotherapy and facing surgery and a list of other treatments.The youngster has suffered from stomach issues since birth and had numerous trips to the doctors but her symptoms worsened in May of this year.Ella began to spend more time in Warrington Hospital and Claire claims she was initially told her daughter had constipation or a viral infection.But as her condition continued to deteriorate, Claire insisted on further tests.Ella underwent an ultrasound which revealed she had a large mass at the back of her stomach after being referred to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.The following week, little Ella was sadly diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma after an MRI scan.