Girl whose terminal cancer was wrongly diagnosed as arthritis dies aged 17
A teenager whose terminal cancer was wrongly diagnosed as arthritis has died.
Alix Cassidy, 17, from Drumchapel, Glasgow, died at the weekend just weeks after doctors said she had an incurable tumour in her spine.
She first went to her GP last October after her fingers went numb and she was struggling to use them, and was sent home with painkillers.
She was repeatedly misdiagnosed after further trips to the GP and A&E and was told she probably had arthritis.
But her mother, Caron, 39, insisted on a second opinion when Alix couldn’t open her Christmas presents, and a neurologist confirmed she didn’t have arthritis.
After a series of MRI scans at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, it was revealed in April she had a tumour on her spinal cord.
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More than £17,000 was raised for Alix’s treatment on a GoFundMe page, which will now be used to pay for her funeral and to support charity.
Her mother has criticised medical staff for not diagnosing her cancer sooner.
In a statement on the GoFundMe page, her family said: "We would love to thank everyone for their amazing donations and messages.
"Sadly our warrior passed away yesterday morning and is now at peace.
"We understand if anyone would like their donations back but the money raised will now be used to give our baby girl the send off she deserves and the rest of money will be donated to a charity.”
