A three-year-old boy from Essex was diagnosed with a rare brain tumour after three separate GP visits misdiagnosed his symptoms as infections, his mother has said.
Emily Cable, 30, from Chelmsford, said her son Frank first showed signs of fatigue and irritability in April 2024, aged one. Within two weeks, he developed breathlessness and was taken to a private GP, who diagnosed a chest infection and prescribed antibiotics. His condition worsened to vomiting and extreme lethargy, leading to two more GP visits where it was dismissed as a viral infection.
Less than 24 hours after the third appointment, Frank had a massive seizure at home and was rushed to Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford. A CT scan revealed a large tumour at the back of his head and fluid build-up. He was transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, where he underwent life-saving surgery and an 11-hour operation to remove the tumour.
Doctors confirmed the tumour was an ependymoma, a rare form of cancer. Frank began proton beam therapy at University College London Hospital in June 2024, undergoing daily treatment for six weeks. The therapy left him exhausted, unable to eat, and reliant on a feeding tube.
Emily praised the hospital staff and described Frank as a 'little miracle'. She said: 'How the brain surgeons managed to get rid of the whole tumour without causing any real permanent damage is just incredible.' Frank is now recovering at home with his family.
