Cancer boy is told: You only have constipation
A BOY of five has been given just weeks to live after doctors are said to have repeatedly dismissed his aggressive cancer as constipation.
Michael Sigwaza made several visits to his GP complaining of severe stomach cramps, but his parents were told there was nothing to worry about.
It was only when the family moved from Bristol to Wokingham in Berkshire with work that their new GP sent Michael off for urgent tests which revealed a tumour that had been growing for months.
He was diagnosed with rhabdoid cancer, a rare and extremely aggressive form of the disease that starts in the kidneys and spreads to other parts of the body. The diagnosis came five months after the youngster first complained of symptoms. Their Bristol GP had prescribed up to eight laxatives a day, but his symptoms persisted.
Michael started chemotherapy in February at a children’s ward in Oxford, two months after the family moved 82 miles to Wokingham, but this had no effect.
On March 29, parents Ernest and Ann were told no other treatment options were available.
They have now set up a GoFundMe page which has raised more than £17,000 to help them get through the final weeks of Michael’s life.
The page has been set up because Mr Sigwaza has been left with no choice but to keep working in order to support his wife, who is expecting a child. Mr Sigwaza, who works for a travel consultancy firm, wrote on the page: ‘Michael’s illness started with symptoms of constipation in July last year.
‘We did not think that this was anything serious and therefore we managed this at home by giving our child a lot of fruits, vegetables and also increased his fluid intake.
‘After one month, there was no improvement and he was seen by our GP in August 2016. The doctor said the problem was constipation and he was given medication.
‘Between August and November 2016, we had several visits to the GP and multiple attendances at Bristol Children’s Hospital Emergency Department, but we were told the same story each time.... “constipation, continue with a laxative”.’
Mr Sigwaza told how the family relocated to Wokingham in December and they ‘begged’ their new GP to help because they knew there was something seriously wrong.
He added: ‘We are deeply saddened to imagine that we don’t have much time left with our dear son.’
A spokesman for the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust said: ‘We are very concerned to hear about Michael’s illness. We have not heard from his family directly, but urge them to contact us.’
‘We don’t have much time left’