Mother's heartbreak after discovering her toddler's 'sore tummy' is actually a rare cancer in his bladder - after doctors dismissed it as constipation
- Boy, aged two, who complained about a sore tummy is diagnosed with cancer
- Maxine Bell said son Louie started suffering pain on his sister Molly's birthday
- He was prescribed laxatives after doctors dismissed his pain as constipation
- But five days later, scans found tumour growing around his bladder and prostate
- The little boy is currently undergoing chemotherapy in a bid to shrink tumour
- His mother said the change in his bowel movement was the warning signs
Maxine Bell shared her heartbreak after her toddler son Louie was diagnosed with cancer
A mother whose two-year-old son complained about a sore tummy has shared her heartbreak at finding out he was actually suffering from a rare cancerous tumour growing around his bladder.
Maxine Bell, 30, said her two-year-old boy Louie was playing with his sister Molly on her fourth birthday on April 28 this year when he started experiencing a sudden, crippling abdominal pain.
Little Louie was prescribed laxatives before being sent home twice after two different doctors dismissed his symptoms as constipation.
But after undergoing biopsy and MRI tests, the family were left reeling when Louie was diagnosed five days later with Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma - an aggressive form of childhood cancer that develops from connective tissues in the body.
Scans found a tumour, measuring 6.6cm by 6.5cm, growing around his bladder, which has been pushing against his spine, causing excruciating pain to shoot through his tiny body.
'As a mother, it's devastating and heartbreaking seeing your baby in pain, scared and anxious. It's so unfair, I would take his place in a heartbeat if I could,' Mrs Bell, from Auckland in New Zealand, told Daily Mail Australia.
Little Louie (pictured with his father Matt, 31) was prescribed laxatives before being sent home twice after two different doctors dismissed his symptom as constipation
Scans found a tumour, measuring 6.6cm by 6.5cm, growing around his bladder, which has been pushing against his spine, causing excruciating pain to his tiny body
'He's too young to understand, so he's just full of fear and anxiety whenever the nurses and doctors need to do anything - no matter how wonderfully kind they are he doesn't like them coming near him.
'It's really hard and I wouldn't wish it on any parent.'
When the family were told about his shock cancer diagnosis, Mrs Bell said she went completely numb.
'The first mention of cancer almost caused me to pass out. I didn't hear anything the doctor said after that, it was like being in a nightmare.
'My husband processed it internally so he was pretty quiet. There were tears from both of us of course and just utter disbelief.
'When they told us the confirmed diagnosis, I had all these questions prepared but I could barely speak even though I knew that was what they were going to tell us. You're just constantly hoping this is a bad dream or they've made a horrible mistake.
Louie was playing with his sister Molly on her fourth birthday on April 28 this year when he started experiencing a sudden, crippling abdominal pain (pictured of the family)
When little Louie started complaining about his sore tummy, his parents initially put the symptoms down to bowel movement problems.
'The evening the pain started, I took him to a doctor who said it was constipation. He prescribed laxatives and suppositories and sent us home,' Ms Bell said.
'That night Louie didn't sleep, he was in pain on and off and no movements happened even with the enemas.
'The next morning I took him to see a different doctor who said it still sounds like constipation. She prescribed stronger laxatives.
'By this point, he had a bulge protruding and I said he hadn't passed any urine since about midnight. I was still sent home. I ended up in tears.'
After undergoing biopsy and MRI tests, the family were left reeling when Louie was diagnosed five days later with an aggressive form of childhood cancer
Despite his shock diagnosis, the brave boy has proved to be a little fighter as he battles cancer
Mrs Bell and her husband Matt, 31, took their son to a hospital where medical staff quickly noticed his bladder protruding.
'So they drained it with a catheter and sent us to another hospital,' she said.
'In hindsight, his bowel motions had changed from one normal size in one day to multiple small ones for a couple of weeks prior.
'I didn't realise it was something concerning until after the diagnosis though so it pays to take notice of changes like that.'
Little Louie is currently undergoing weekly chemotherapy in an attempt to reduce the size of the tumour - as the doctors have estimated a 70 per cent chance of cure.
'He's handling the chemo really well, he's usually still got plenty of energy and an appetite. We don't know how the tumour is responding yet, he's scheduled for another MRI in two weeks so we have everything crossed that there's some shrinkage,' she said.
Little Louie is currently undergoing weekly chemotherapy in an attempt to reduce the size of the tumour - as the doctors have estimated a 70 per cent chance of cure
His doting parents remain hopeful - as they look into proton radiation therapy - a treatment that uses high-energy beams to treat tumours to lower the risks and long term affects on Louie
Sadly, surgery is not possible at this stage due to the high risks associated with the location of the tumour.
'It's wrapped around his bladder, urethra, and prostate and it's pushing on his bowels so doctors don't want to operate because of the risk of damaging those important structures is too high,' Ms Bell said.
'At the moment, the worst symptom is pain when trying to pass bowel movements and sometimes a bit of discomfort with the catheter.
His doting parents remain hopeful - as they look into proton radiation therapy - a treatment that uses high-energy beams to treat tumours to lower the risks and long term affects on Louie.
However, Louie will face the risks of incontinence, infertility and impotence, as well as the possibility of other cancers developing in the future.
Before the shock diagnosis, Ms Bell said her son Louie was just a 'happy, healthy little boy'
Sibling love! Louie was playing with his sister Molly on her fourth birthday on April 28 this year when he started experiencing a sudden, crippling abdominal pain
'If proton therapy doesn't work out, he is due to start radiation August 6 for five-and-a-half weeks. Chemotherapy is for 42 weeks all up and then 24 more weeks of what they call maintenance chemotherapy,' Ms Bell said.
'As a family we will just be getting each other through and trying to find the good things to enjoy throughout these tough times.'
Generous family, friends and strangers have rallied behind the family-of-four to set up a GiveALittle fundraising page to help with medical costs and treatment.
'We're just blown away with the donations we've received so far. We are so grateful for each and every dollar and people are truly so kind and generous,' Ms Bell said.
'I'd like to also add that the doctors and nurses have been amazing and we feel so lucky to receive such great care.'
Despite his shock diagnosis, the brave boy has proved to be a little fighter.
'Before the diagnosis, Louie was just a happy, healthy little boy,' she said.
'He was pretty chilled and calm. He loved laughing, especially at his big sister. He knew how to throw a good tantrum but was mostly a little angel.
'He's still all those things, he just has cancer to fight.'
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