Schoolgirl died after her breast cancer referral was downgraded – because she was just 16
Girl told lumps in breasts were likely hormonal dies after cancer diagnosis
- Isla Sneddon, a 17-year-old, died of breast cancer after an urgent referral was downgraded due to her age, despite initial concerns and painful lumps.
- In 2022, at age 14, Isla was told her breast lumps were likely hormonal; when she returned in 2024 at age 16, an urgent referral was downgraded in line with national guidelines that treat patients under 30 with suspected cancer as routine. Her family is advocating for a review of urgent cancer referrals, arguing that earlier, more aggressive treatment, similar to that of adults, might have saved her life.
- After the downgraded referral, a biopsy revealed a likely benign tumor, but Isla's condition deteriorated, leading to a diagnosis of sarcoma, which had spread from her breast to her heart, lungs, and lymph nodes.
- Isla's family is calling on the Scottish government and NHS Scotland to ensure paediatric referrals have the same maximum wait times as adults, with follow-ups for downgraded or delayed referrals, and clearer guidelines for recognising cancer signs in young adults and children.
- A spokesperson for the Scottish government said a new primary care cancer education platform called Gateway C was launched in NHS Scotland on April 30, 2024 to further support early cancer diagnosis.