Twelve years after their daughter was diagnosed with cancer, a family from Welshpool are sharing their story to raise awareness of the disease.
Bethan Evans, from Welshpool, was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare bone and tissue cancer, on her fifth birthday in January 2012.
Parents Lynne and Arwel took Bethan to the doctor where she had an X-ray after they first noticed she was unwell when a lump on the top of her left arm appeared.
Bethan underwent life-saving surgery where her left arm was temporarily removed at the shoulder, packed in ice and driven three miles to another hospital so the 17 centimetre tumour could be treated with radiotherapy.
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Lynne said: “Finding out that our little girl had cancer was truly life shattering. Everything after Bethan’s diagnosis all happened so quickly.
"She had a central line put in, endured intense chemotherapy and as a result of the chemotherapy treatment, lost her beautiful hair, toe and fingernails, and her teeth began to fall out.
“After months of gruelling treatment, we were told the only way to remove the cancer was to remove Bethan’s shoulder, humerus and elbow, have them driven across a city to another hospital for treatment before being driven back and re-attached.
“As a parent you will do absolutely anything to protect your children so hearing this as the only option for Bethan was heartbreaking."
Lynne added: “Fast forwarding by 12 years, Bethan is now 17 years old and is completing her A Levels in Sociology, Welsh Baccalaureate, Biology and Psychology. She is still living with the effects of the intense treatment she endured at such a young age.
Bethan Evans and her mother Lynne, from Welshpool, Powys. (Image: Grace Coniry)
“Cancer has truly changed our lives and we are thankful each and every day for our daughter, and for the outcome we have had as a family.
"Bethan won’t let the cancer take anything from her and she is proud to be an Ewing’s sarcoma survivor.
“As a family, we’re sharing our story in the hope that it raises awareness and the understanding of childhood cancer, and highlights the importance of new scientific research to help beat this devastating disease.”
The family are working with Children with Cancer UK for the charity’s ‘12 Groups of Cancer’ campaign, a series of short films which aim to help raise awareness and understanding of the 12 groups of childhood and young adult cancer types.
Christiana Ogunbote, Head of Research at Children with Cancer UK, added: “We would like to thank Bethan’s family for sharing their inspirational story, and helping us to increase understanding of the profound impact it can have on young people and their families.”
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