A teenager who was told her joint pains were simply “growing pains” is now battling multiple tumors in her bones, breast and liver, and doctors can’t find a cause.
Chloe Renshaw, 15, from Plymouth, began suffering from knee discomfort in October, so bad it left her “crying on the sofa at night”.
Her father Adam Renshaw, 43, took her to the local minor injuries unit, where he was assured it was a normal teenage stage.
They returned two weeks later when the pain spread through her legs, but they were told the same thing again and sent Chloe on with some exercises.
Another week passed and the pain was also in her back, at which point the father of three decided to take her to A&E at Derriford Hospital.
He insisted that she have a CT scan and, surprisingly, it revealed a tumor in her spine.
“The struggle for children to be diagnosed is ridiculous, I have heard the same story from many parents,” the single father of three told MailOnline.
Chloe was rushed to Bristol Children’s Hospital, where further tests revealed cancer in her pelvic bone, skull, breasts and liver.
Chloe Renshaw, 15, from Plymouth (pictured right) began complaining in October of knee pain so severe it left her “crying on the sofa at night”. Her father Adam Renshaw, 43, (pictured left) took her to the local minor injuries unit, where he was assured it was “growing pains”.
A CT scan revealed that her lower bones, pelvic bone and skull had tumors, she also had four tumors in her breasts and liver.
Mr Renshaw said: ‘Towards the end of the week, before I took her to A&E, she was in absolute agony day and night.
‘The doctors assured us it was just growing pains, so we took them at their word.
“I tried to get her to do the exercises they recommended and to take her to school, but she was in too much pain.”
Despite finding the tumors, doctors can’t identify what type of cancer Chloe has, the father says.
Chloe has completed a round of chemotherapy, but since the cancer is also affecting her immune system, they have to wait to see if she can handle any more.
“I’m devastated,” Mr Renshaw said. “He hasn’t come home, he’s been at the children’s hospital the whole time.”
He explained that doctors have given conflicting opinions about the couple and, although some doctors are optimistic, others report “pessimism.”
He said: ‘The last oncologist gave me the impression that they don’t think they can do much for her.
Despite finding the tumors, doctors can’t identify what type of cancer Chloe has, the father says.
Just days before his 15th birthday, community members turned up with gifts and cake, but Mr Renshaw explained that because he was taking painkillers, he would come in and pass out.
“They say it is a very fast and aggressive cancer, so they don’t know if they will be able to solve it.”
Mr Renshaw, who works as a doorman, explained that he has not been able to work and that staying in Bristol is too expensive for him.
But the community has been helping in any way they can, using the Facebook page called #chloescause – to the moon and back and a GoFundMe.
Just days before his 15th birthday, members of the community turned up with gifts and cakes, but Mr Renshaw explained that because he was taking painkillers, he would come in and pass out.
The night before her birthday, Monday, December 3, Chloe was taken to the ICU, placed in an induced coma, and put on a ventilator to help her breathe before beginning her first round of chemotherapy.
Speaking about the community Facebook page, Mr Renshaw said: “I made a video when I found out the bad news and my hands were still shaking, I sent a video and it took off.”
“Then Chloe and I sat down and talked about it and she wanted to make some videos to help other kids while she was doing chemo.
“She’s a 15-year-old girl who has a little bit of internet fame and loves it.”
Renshaw explained that Chloe is currently sedated due to the pain she is in and is updating the community when she can.
Speaking to her followers on Facebook, she said: “Chloe’s situation is really up and down at the moment, it’s quite difficult to post updates.” “It’s an absolute emotional rollercoaster.”