Six-Year-Old's Arm Pain Initially Dismissed as Sprain Turns Out to Be Rare Cancer
A six-year-old girl whose arm pain was initially dismissed by medical professionals as a simple sprain has been given just weeks to live after it was diagnosed as a rare and aggressive form of cancer. Bonnie-Leigh Spence from Consett, County Durham, has undergone a traumatic journey including amputation, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, but her family has now been told that treatment options have been exhausted.
From Sprain to Devastating Diagnosis
In December 2024, Bonnie's mother, Zoe, first noticed a lump on her daughter's arm accompanied by sharp pain. According to the family, initial medical assessments at Blackburn Hospital suggested it was merely a sprain, and they were advised to use Calpol for relief. However, persistent symptoms led to a second hospital visit where a scan revealed a tumour, prompting a referral to Birmingham Children's Hospital for a biopsy seven weeks later.
The diagnosis confirmed rhabdoid sarcoma, an exceptionally rare cancer affecting approximately eight children annually in the UK. This type of cancer typically develops in the kidneys but can also impact the brain or other soft tissues, with warning signs including lumps, urinary issues, or neurological symptoms.
Aggressive Treatment and Heartbreaking Outcome
Following the diagnosis in February 2025, Bonnie's condition deteriorated rapidly. A full-body MRI at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle revealed the cancer had spread to her lungs, where it began cutting off nerves and leaking toxins into her kidneys. In a desperate move to contain the disease, doctors amputated her left arm above the elbow.
She then endured an intense 28-week course of chemotherapy, administered every two weeks, followed by two weeks of radiotherapy in June aimed at shrinking the lung tumours. Despite these efforts, recent scans have shown the tumours have returned and are gaining momentum, with doctors indicating that the maximum dosage of chemotherapy has been reached.
Her step-mother, Caroline Spence, 32, shared the devastating prognosis: "The doctors have said she's had the maximum dosage of chemotherapy, so now we're waiting for the tumours in her body essentially. They're just waiting for it to hit its momentum, they've said it would be about mid-March. It would be days after it peaks that we could lose, so we're told we have roughly eight weeks. The cancer has doubled again in six weeks."
Family's Race Against Time to Create Memories
With time running out, Bonnie's father Iain, an HGV driver and former soldier who served in Afghanistan, and Caroline, a midwife, have both taken leave from their jobs to provide round-the-clock care. They have launched a fundraising campaign to afford last-minute trips and experiences, aiming to compress a lifetime of memories into Bonnie's final months.
The family has already taken her to Disneyland and arranged special moments like walking on the pitch at Rangers and with Newcastle United's captain Bruno. Caroline explained: "We're trying to do everything you would do with a child in 18 years in one year. It's not been easy, but we've made it work. The money has been unbelievable, it helps us stay with her."
Despite the toll of treatment, Bonnie remains in high spirits, described as a funny and cheeky typical six-year-old who smiles through everything. The family is focused on making each day count, avoiding negativity in the house as they cherish their remaining time together.
