3-year-old girl diagnosed with rare tumor after doctors dismissed bump on toe as wart and told parents ‘it’s nothing to worry about’

A Gwynedd toddler was fobbed off by doctors after being told that a giant tumour on her foot had been a ‘wart’ for two years.

Nansi Alys visited the doctor in May 2021, when she was only three years old, after her mother discovered a small bump on her toe.

Despite the fact that the growth continued to increase, several doctors told the girl’s mother, Leila Evans, that the The mass was “nothing to worry about” — he dismissed it as a wart, and then as a cyst.

It wasn’t until the summer of 2023, when Nansi underwent surgery to remove the lump, that surgeons realized the extent of the risk to the girl’s health.

Nansi Alys was taken to the doctor when she was just three years old after her mother Leila Evans noticed a small bump on her toe in May 2021

Doctors told Mrs. Evans the lump was a wart, but in the months that followed the lump continued to grow

After tests were conducted, Nansi was diagnosed with a rare tumor, which affects approximately five in every million people.

Mrs Evans said: ‘We went back and forth [to the doctors] and they said they thought it was a wart and that there was no cause for concern.

‘In June 2022 we were seen by another doctor who said it looked like a benign cyst.

‘He referred us to a specialist at Bangor Hospital who said it looked like a benign cyst and that there was nothing wrong.

He said they could take it out or leave it there and keep an eye on it.

“I said I wanted it all to be taken out and tested. I had no idea what it was, it was growing and growing.”

Mrs Evans, from Criccieth in Gwynedd, Wales, kept at it until 2022 when another GP saw the lump and thought it was a tumour

After surgery in 2023 to remove the lump, she was diagnosed with a rare tumor that affects only about five in a million people

In 2023, Nansi underwent surgery to remove the tumor and after a six-week wait, the family received answers.

She was diagnosed with desmoid fibromatosis (DF), a rare type of intermediate soft tissue tumor that is somewhere between benign and malignant.

DF is not a specific cancer in itself, but falls under the heading of sarcoma, a group of rare cancers that arise in the bones or soft tissue.

According to Sarcoma UK, these types of tumors can come back on or near the original tumor, but they do not spread.

These types of tumors usually occur on the arms, legs, or abdomen, but can also develop in the head or neck area.

She was diagnosed with desmoid fibromatosis (DF), a rare type of intermediate soft tissue tumor that is somewhere between benign and malignant.

It is extremely rare. Out of every million people, five to six may develop DF.

However, it is difficult to predict how DF will develop. Sometimes they can grow slowly and have also been known to shrink without any treatment, says Sarcoma UK.

“All sorts of things were going through my mind: What if my daughter gets cancer?” Evans said.

‘I wish the doctors had listened to me.

“It was scary for the whole family. After all, she was my baby and she was only six years old.”

After receiving the shocking diagnosis, the family sought information and support from the charity Sarcoma UK.

After receiving the shocking diagnosis, the family, pictured Leila and Mark Evans on Mount Snowdon, contacted the charity Sarcoma UK for information and support

Inspired by Nansi’s story, the family climbed Mount Snowdon on Saturday and raised more than £1,300 for Sarcoma UK during their five-hour climb

“When we found out, the doctor said if we were going to google it, we should look on the Sarcoma UK website, so that’s what I did,” Evans said.

‘Within a week of Nansi’s diagnosis, Sarcoma UK sent us a wealth of information about the cause and next steps.

“They helped us keep track of our appointments and told us what we could do as a family to help her. They’ve been really good.”

Inspired by Nansi’s story, the family climbed Mount Snowdon on Saturday and raised over £1,300 for Sarcoma UK during their five-hour climb.

“I’ve never been up Snowdon before so if I was going to do it it had to be for a good cause and what better way to raise money than for Sarcoma UK?” Evans said.

“It was a beautiful day. I had a hard time at first, but it was amazing. All I had in my mind was, ‘I’m doing it for Nansi.’

‘I’m over the moon that we’ve been able to raise so much. My initial target was £500 and we’ve reached that in the first few days. I’m absolutely thrilled.’