‘NAPPY RASH’ CANCER GIRL, LUNA CADEN, IN THE CLEAR

Published: 13th January, 2011
by TOM FOOT

A BRAVE three-year-old girl has made a remarkable recovery after doctors missed symptoms of bladder cancer and sent her home with suspected “nappy rash”.

Luna Caden, from Hampstead, lost all her hair as she endured nine months of gruelling chemotherapy treatment during clinical trials at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).

She suffered acute kidney failure and will need reconstructive surgery in later life – her chances of a relapse remain “very high”.

But doctors have tentatively given her the all-clear after Luna responded to treatment. 

Her mum Monica Ugidos, who lives with her husband David in Netherhall Gardens, said: “We were very close to losing her. She was so small and very sick. It was really hard to watch her go through it.” 

The charity Cancer Research UK this week named Luna a “Little Star” during an awards ceremony. She was presented with a special card signed by popstar Rihanna and Arsenal Football Club captain Cesc Fabregas.

Ms Ugidos said: “It’s really important that parents are aware the symptoms their child has could be more than just an infection or a food intolerance. And if they don’t get the answers they want, don’t be afraid to ask again.”

Mr Caden said an experienced doctor could have felt the “grapefruit-sized” tumour by “squeezing her lower tummy” and that he had concerns about the length of time it took for doctors to reach the correct diagnosis.

Luna had been unwell for weeks in 2009, then just one year old, but her parents made several visits to the GP where they were sent away told it was either nappy rash, an infection or food intolerance. 

Eventually after tests at hospital and a second opinion, they were informed it was something far more serious and the toddler was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma (bladder cancer) in March of that year. 

A 600-cubic-centimetre tumour was identified and Luna was rushed to GOSH in Holborn where experts stabilised her and began chemotherapy treatment straight away as part of a new European trial.

Ms Ugidos said: “It [GOSH] is a place that no parent wants to have to take their child to, but, once you are there, you realise you are part of a world-class medical institution and yet also part of the caring GOSH family. It is not a depressing place at all. It is a place where miracles happen.”

Bladder cancer is an invasive disease normally afflicting older men and smokers. Cancer in childhood is rare – affecting around 1 in 500 children under the age of 15. 

Each year, around 1,500 children are diagnosed with cancer in the UK with leukaemia being the most common form.

A Cancer Research UK spokeswoman said: “Luna has been through a lot in her young life but she has continued to sparkle and made her family so proud of her. She truly deserves this Little Star award.” 

Despite her illness, talented Luna has learned to speak both English and Spanish fluently in her first  three years.

Mum Monica added: “To look at her today, you would never know what she has been through. She is a wonderful bilingual chatterbox – she speaks perfect Spanish – and she has started nursery.”

Luna and her family have held a number of fundraising events for Great Ormond Street.