A grieving mother from Hereford is urging parents to trust their instincts after her teenage son tragically died from a rare bone cancer that initially presented as nothing more than a mild limp.
A Limp Misdiagnosed
In April 2019, 13-year-old Frank Cleal developed a slight limp. His parents, Emma and Ed, assumed it was linked to a tumble he had taken during a rugby match. Frank was otherwise a completely normal and healthy boy, showing no other concerning symptoms like night sweats or weight loss.
When the limp persisted, a GP visit in May 2019 led to a diagnosis of a hamstring strain. Frank was prescribed exercises, but they provided no relief. "The exercises weren't helping and the limp was getting more pronounced," his mother Emma recalled.
Devastating Diagnosis and Brave Battle
A worried Emma took Frank back to the doctors. Following an X-ray and an MRI scan in June 2019, the family received the devastating news: Frank had osteosarcoma, a rare and aggressive bone cancer. A tumour was discovered in his right femur.
Frank endured around ten months of intensive chemotherapy. When the first round failed to shrink the tumour, and a small dot was found in his other leg, his treatment was switched. Surgeons replaced the bone in his right leg with a metal prosthesis, from his femur down to his shin, and Frank courageously relearned how to walk.
After completing chemotherapy in March 2020, Frank needed surgery on his other leg in May as the cancer had spread. The family's worst fears were realised in November 2020 when Frank relapsed, this time with cancer in his lungs. Despite surgery, a scan in February 2021 confirmed the disease was terminal. Frank passed away at just 13 years old.
A Legacy of Support and a Vital Warning
Determined that Frank's story should help others, the family established 'Be More Frank', a fund under the Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust. To date, it has raised over £300,000 to provide grants for families facing childhood cancer across six counties, covering costs like transport and accommodation during treatment.
Emma, 46, now backs the Trust's 'You Know Them Best' campaign to raise awareness of childhood cancer symptoms. Her message to other parents is stark and heartfelt. "The main message is that if I had known an unexplained limp could have been anything sinister, maybe the outcome could have been different," she said.
"It's okay to have a prod and a feel of something that's unexplained. Had I known, I would have pushed the doctors more," Emma added. "If you're really not sure, trust yourself and go to the doctors. Please read up on the signs of childhood cancers, knowledge is power for this."
