“We Noticed a Lump as She Brushed Her Teeth” — The Life and Loss of 12‑Year‑Old Beth and the Fight Against Rare Childhood Cancer
By [Your Name], Special Correspondent
On an ordinary evening in early December 2020, parents Aby and Ben Phelps were quietly getting their daughter ready for bed. Beth, just 11 years old at the time, was brushing her teeth — a mundane, everyday moment shared by families all over the world — when her parents noticed something unusual: a firm lump beneath her shoulder blade that hadn’t been there the night before.
This is the story of Beth’s life, her family’s and medical journey, what Ewing sarcoma is, and why her case has touched countless people around the world while reminding us all how important awareness and research are for rare childhood cancers.
From Normal Childhood to Devastating Diagnosis
Beth Phelps was described by her family as “funny, quick‑witted, caring, and beautiful” — a vibrant girl who loved her friends, her cat Monkey, her favorite teddy bear Lamy, gaming with friends, and all the simple joys of childhood.
In December 2020, her parents noticed a lump the size of roughly half a golf ball under her T‑shirt while she was brushing her teeth — something that seemed insignificant at first but sparked immediate concern once they saw its size and sudden appearance.
Although they initially assumed it might be a harmless cyst or swelling, the lump prompted an immediate medical evaluation. When tests, including a CT, X‑ray and MRI, were conducted at Jersey General Hospital, doctors delivered shocking news: suspected cancer. Further evaluation confirmed that the lump was not benign — it was a tumour consistent with Ewing sarcoma, a rare and aggressive bone cancer.
What Is Ewing Sarcoma? A Rare and Aggressive Disease
Ewing sarcoma is a type of cancer that typically arises from bones or the soft tissue surrounding bones. It most often appears in children and young adults, particularly affecting teenagers and young adults aged 10–20. However, like in Beth’s case, it can also occur in younger children.
Because it is rare and its early symptoms can be subtle or resemble ordinary growing pains or minor injuries, Ewing sarcoma is often not immediately recognised — a fact that makes early detection particularly challenging and underscores the importance of vigilance when parents observe anything unusual in their children.
In many cases, pain in a bone or limb, unexplained lumps or swelling, persistent discomfort, or visible masses are among the first signs that something more serious could be happening. Because many of these signs can also occur in normal childhood growth or minor injury, awareness becomes critical.
The Battle Begins: Treatment and Hope
Once diagnosed, Beth’s treatment began immediately. She was referred to specialist care, which included complex and gruelling interventions:
Chemotherapy
Surgery
In May 2021, Beth underwent major surgery to remove the tumour along with her entire left scapula (shoulder blade). This type of surgery, while physically demanding and life‑changing, is sometimes necessary when tumours cannot be controlled through chemotherapy alone.
Radiotherapy
Following surgery, Beth underwent a prolonged period of radiotherapy. Radiotherapy uses high‑energy radiation to target cancer cells and destroy those that surgery might have missed or that remained after chemotherapy.
Despite the challenges, her parents said she “took it all in her stride” and remained calm and strong even during the most difficult medical procedures.
By the end of 2021, after nine months of treatment including chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy, Beth was declared cancer‑free — a moment of immense relief and celebration for her family. Her return home was marked by joy, and Beth quickly returned to normal childhood pursuits, including celebrating her 12th birthday and going on a family holiday just before Christmas.
Relapse and the Reality of Rare Cancer
Just months after her return home and after seeming to enjoy a period of health, Beth began to experience troubling symptoms again in 2022. Her right shoulder began to hurt — a pain her doctors initially attributed to normal growing pains or changes in her body from the prior surgery and treatments.
But the pain persisted and intensified. When further imaging was finally performed in June 2022, the heartbreaking truth was revealed: the cancer had returned, this time in her right lung. A relapse of Ewing sarcoma — especially one that had spread to vital organs like the lungs — carries a very poor prognosis and limited treatment options.
Faced with this news, the Phelps family had to make one of the most difficult decisions parents can ever face: whether to pursue further aggressive treatment or focus on palliative care. They chose to bring her home and make her remaining time as comfortable and loving as possible with her family and beloved pets by her side.
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