Schoolgirl died after her breast cancer referral was downgraded – because she was 16 years old

A teenager died from breast cancer After his treatment was demoted from “urgent” to “routine” because of his age.

Isla Sneddon, then 14, went for the first time to the hospital in the summer of 2022 with painful songs in her breasts, but was informed that they were at hormones.

She returned in 2024, at the age of 16, with similar symptoms, but despite her general practitioner by an urgent reference due to a hint of cancer, he was demoted in accordance with national directives.

Her family is now asking for an examination of emergency cancer references and said they may have survived if her symptoms were taken as seriously as the adult cancer treatment.

According to the Scottish reference directives for suspected cancer, any new discreet bump in a patient over 30 years old must be treated as an urgent reference and observed within two weeks, while those under 30 are treated as a routine.

Talk to The independentHer cousin Mairi McGee said: “Isla was a beautiful soul. She was kind, reliable and had the ability to make people feel. She loved music, makeup and all that is pink.”

Once her urgent reference was demolished, she was finally seen for a biopsy two months later in August 2024 and said he had to be a benign tumor, a probable giant fibroadenoma.

However, six days later, his family was informed that there was a bag filled with liquid around his heart and liquid in his lungs. While her condition deteriorated, she stayed in intensive care at Golden Hospital in Glasgow for 10 weeks until she received the new devastator that the sarcoma had been found on the lining of her heart.

Sarcoma is a rare form of aggressive cancer that begins in the bones and soft tissues. In the case of Isla, cancer was from its breast and spread to its heart, lungs and lymph nodes.

She had only six to 12 months to live and was able to continue her treatment at home until her death at the age of 17, six months and two days after her diagnosis.

“We cannot insist enough for the care that Isla received from doctors and nurses was exceptional. They were really incredible with Isla,” said McGee.

“We believe that the directives concerning the references should be modified. If Isla had been an adult, her case would not have been demoted and this month or two delay could have made the difference between us with Isla with us today or even having more time.”

His family calls for the Scottish government and NHS Scotland To ensure that pediatric references are subject to the same maximum waiting times as adults, and for there to be a follow -up where a reference is demoted or delayed.

They also call for clearer directives to help general practitioners and clinicians to recognize and intensify cancer signs in young adults and children without delay.

Scotland has one of the highest mortality rates for those under 18 in Western Europe, with around 300 children and young people who die each year.

Scottish workThe deputy chief of Lady Jackie Baillie said: “This is a completely heartbreaking case and my thoughts are with Isla Sneddon’s family.

“It is a scandal that Isla and his family were so badly failed and that the lessons must be learned from this horrible case to ensure that no life is unnecessarily lost in this way.”

She added: “There must be an examination on how cancer references for young people are managed so that we can make sure that people of all ages obtain the treatment of rapid cancer and saving lives.”

Isla’s family said: “Isla’s death has broken all of her family, friends and teachers. We are more devastated and cannot accept this. It should not happen to anyone and even less someone in front of them.”

An Scottish government spokesperson said: “Our thoughts relate to Isla’s family on their loss.

“The Scottish reference guidelines for suspected cancer have been developed to support primary care clinicians to identify those who have suspicious symptoms of cancer and identify those who need an urgent assessment by a specialist. These guidelines have recently been examined with the contribution of clinicians and cancer charitable organizations to ensure that they are based on evidence and help support early identification of cancer.

“To support this, a new primary care cancer education platform – Gateway C – was launched on April 30, 2024 in the NHS Scotland, supported by the NHS Education for Scotland. Gateway C provides innovative and tailor -made information to support previous cancer diagnostic efforts and allow effective decision -making.

“This free online platform is accessible to all primary care clinicians, including pharmacists, dentists and optometrists.”