Mother: I was, I was just shocked at the length of time that it took for them to diagnose what was, what was actually wrong with [name]. Had it, had it not been for, in fact a misdiagnosis by the GP but a referral to the hospital nonetheless it could have gone on for an awful lot longer without, without being, being diagnosed. And in fact when [name] presented with the elevated white count and this terrible pain in his leg we were sent home for ten days by the consultant guy, bone man to and when [name], when went back to the clinic he, he still didn't know what was wrong. So I think there needs to be more awareness throughout the whole profession so that if, if, if a child turns up with a bad leg in a bone clinic they can consider that leukaemia might be a cause of that. Several of the children that we've encountered while [name] has been treated have all presented with limps, pains in their legs, difficult walking and the little ones crying when they are walking, that sort of thing. So I, I just think that a, a more, more awareness full stop really.
So there is, there is a need for more awareness more?
Mother: Absolutely there is yes because they, they. When, when [name] presented with the pain in his leg, excruciating pain in his leg and the elevated white count then I think at that stage that initial meeting the blood test should have been done. But it wasn't even, it wasn't even thought of.
A special kind of blood test?
Mother: Yes, yes to check for, for the leukaemic cells so it wasn't until [name] went back ten days later and had a rash on his lower leg which is symptomatic of leukaemia that they then did the test and the diagnosis was made. |