Four-year-old loses kidney, faces chemo after Logan Hospital ‘missed’ cancer two times

A mum who trusted a gut feeling that her four-year-old daughter was desperately ill, after four visits in three weeks at Logan Hospital, was finally told the girl had cancer.

Tahlia Matheson with daughter Rylee, 4s, who has a fast growing tumour. Picture: Steve Pohlner

A four-year-old girl who presented at Logan Hospital with stomach pains four times is now facing months of chemotherapy after a shock stage four cancer diagnosis, which forced doctors to remove a kidney.

Jimboomba mother Tahlia Matheson said she took her daughter Rylee to Logan Hospital four times in three weeks, including on two occasions when doctors sent her home after saying it was only constipation and “faecal loading’’.

On two other occasions Ms Matheson said she walked out after waiting for hours without Rylee being seen, including one time when doctors said her case was not a priority.

But by the fourth visit, on November 17 last year, she knew something was terribly wrong and took Rylee to Queensland Children’s Hospital.

She said doctors there immediately ordered tests which revealed a stage four Wilms Tumour, or nephroblastoma.

The fast-growing kidney cancer is usually found in children under five.

Tahlia Matheson with daughter Rylee, 4s, who has a fast growing tumour. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Miss Matheson said Rylee began complaining of unbearably painful stomach aches three weeks before she was finally diagnosed by QCH specialists.

“She had a visible lump in her stomach that you could see poking out and was she bedridden (by the time she was seen at QCH),” Miss Matheson said.

“When we got there a couple of different doctors saw her and sent her straight in for testing which revealed she had a Wilms tumour, which affects one in every 10,000 kids.

“It had taken up most of her torso, wrapped around her kidneys and had burst (spread) into her lungs.’’

Rylee had a suspicious lump poking out of her stomach.

A spokeswoman for the Metro South Health district, which covers Logan Hospital, said they took patient wellbeing extremely seriously and that a review of the case would be conducted.

“Our thoughts are with Rylee’s family during this difficult time, and we wish her the very best during her treatment and recovery,” she said.

Rylee endured six weeks of gruelling chemotherapy before surgeons were able to operate.

“It was absolutely crazy and I don’t remember much of the day when we were told she had stage four cancer,” Ms Matheson said.

“It all happened so fast. She was playing on the beach three days prior.

“Doctors said the tumour had doubled in size over the two weeks before she was diagnosed, so having it detected earlier would have made so much of a difference.

Oncologists removed Rylee’s right kidney and had to cut into a nerve where the tumour had entered her diaphragm after bursting.’’

She said Rylee now had to have 27 more weeks of chemotherapy and this week began radiotherapy.

Rylee's sister Jemma (15), cousin Vanessa (17), brother Gabriel (11), sister Alana (17), Rylee and her mother Tahlia.

“It is heartbreaking making her do the five-night stints at the hospital when she doesn’t understand what is going on,’’ she said.

“She is a very energetic little girl who loves being outside and running around with balls and the dog (but) she is scared and doesn’t want to go (to hospital).

“We try to make the ward as comfortable and familiar for her as we can with her favourite blanket and toys... she doesn’t understand it is to make her better.’’

A family friend has started a GoFundMe page to support Ms Matheson and her five children.

Ms Matheson said she had no idea how drastically Rylee’s condition would end up affecting her — mentally, physically and emotionally.