I thought my daughter had constipation but it was cancer - I'm so grateful Blackpool doctors saved her life

Olivia was just 20 months old when her parents thought she was suffering with severe constipation. She was admitted to Blackpool Victoria Hospital after attending urgent care at Whitegate Drive Health Centre. The doctor there, the family say, “undoubtedly saved Olivia's life.”

A couple of days later, and after numerous scans and tests, a doctor gave the family the devastating news that they had detected a mass in Olivia's abdomen and she was being transferred to the Oncology Ward at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital that night.

Olivia went on to have a total of six rounds of aggressive chemotherapy which made her poorly, but has reduced the size of her tumour. Mum Kirsty said: “Olivia spent a lot of time in the Children's Ward at Blackpool as an inpatient after every round of chemo. We are eternally grateful for the incredible teams at Blackpool hospital for identifying the tumour early and then providing ongoing care throughout the treatment.

“This includes the doctors and nurses who showed much-needed compassion on the day the tumour was found. The nurses who cared for us when we were spending weeks at a time on the Children's Ward when Olivia had temperatures and neutropenia. The amazing play nurses who went out of their way to put a smile on our baby's face every day. And finally, the Community Nurses who genuinely felt like family coming to our home.”

Olivia, now two, has now finished her treatment. Although the tumour will stay with her as a permanent fixture, it is not growing and is not a threat to her and she will continue to be monitored every three months. Last month Olivia rang the bell on Blackpool Victoria Hospital’s Children’s Ward surrounded by her medical team and family.

10 children diagnosed a day

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month (CCAM), and every day in the UK, 10 children and young people will receive the devastating news that they have cancer.