Three GP Visits Failed to Detect Toddler’s Brain Tumour, Leading to Emergency Surgery

An Essex mother, Emily Cable, has recounted the harrowing experience of her son Frank’s rare brain tumour being misdiagnosed as infections during three separate visits to general practitioners (GPs) before a chance encounter with a private doctor led to a life-saving diagnosis.

Initial Symptoms and Repeated Misdiagnoses

Frank Cable first exhibited signs of fatigue and irritability in April 2024, when he was just one year old. Within two weeks, these symptoms progressed to breathlessness, prompting a visit to a private GP who initially diagnosed a chest infection and prescribed a five-day course of antibiotics MSN. However, Frank’s condition rapidly deteriorated, with vomiting and extreme lethargy soon following.

Emily’s husband, Josh, subsequently took Frank to their local GP on two further occasions, where medical professionals attributed his symptoms to viral infections Yahoo Style UK.

Emergency Hospitalization and Diagnosis

Less than 24 hours after the third GP appointment, Frank suffered a sudden and unexpected seizure in his mother’s arms, leading to an immediate rush to Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford BritBrief. A CT scan and X-ray revealed a large tumour at the back of his head, accompanied by significant fluid build-up.

Frank was diagnosed on May 23, 2024, at 15 months old, and was found to be in a critical condition, requiring an induced coma to mitigate the risk of stroke or further seizures due to the fluid accumulation. He was then transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in London for emergency life-saving surgery BritBrief.

Surgical Intervention and Recovery

Following a successful initial surgery, Frank underwent an 11-hour procedure to remove the brain tumour less than a week later BritBrief. Post-surgery, Frank experienced swelling and bruising and initially had limited head movement.

Testing of the tumour revealed it to be a rare form of cancer called an ependymoma, with typical symptoms including headaches, feeling or being sick, problems with coordination and sight, and seizures Yahoo Style UK.

Proton Beam Therapy and Remission

Frank began a course of proton beam therapy at University College London Hospital (UCLH) in June 2024. The six-week treatment took a toll on the young patient, causing exhaustion, sleep and appetite loss, and ultimately requiring a feeding tube BritBrief.

By the complete of 2024, Frank completed his radiotherapy and a subsequent scan confirmed he was in remission BritBrief.

Ongoing Care and Family Support

While Frank’s development was initially impacted by his treatment, he began to walk with a walking frame and talk from November 2025. He continues to require regular hospital visits and scans over the next ten years BritBrief.

Emily Cable and her family are supporting GOSH Charity’s launch of sculptures at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to raise funds for a new Children’s Cancer Centre GoFundMe.