Burnley Student, 16, thought she had flu but was told she had cancer

A student who thought she had the flu said she was “shell-shocked” when she was told she had cancer.

Sophie Claxton, from Burnley, Lancashire, was 16 and in her first year of college when her mother took her to the GP after she developed a fever and struggled to get out of bed.

She ended up going to A&E for assessment and was then quickly transferred to Christie Hospital in Manchester, where a bone marrow biopsy led to her being diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, followed by chemotherapy treatment.

She is now 19 and, after ringing her cancer bell in March, says she is “coming out the other side” and “loving life” at Manchester Metropolitan University.

A criminology student thought she had the flu during her freshman year of college, but when she developed a fever, her GP suspected she might have sepsis.

When she was diagnosed at Christie, she was already so ill that she was admitted to the ICU the first night and immediately received chemotherapy.

After seven weeks of intensive treatment in 2022, she was able to return home for Christmas – by which time she weighed 6lb (39kg) and said she was devastated by the hair loss due to the treatment.

Ms Claxton regularly required blood and platelet transfusions and was admitted to intensive care four times.

She also had to miss a year of college.

However, she is now looking forward to a brighter future, having entered the “maintenance” phase of treatment in the summer of 2023 and completing chemotherapy earlier this year, with the end of treatment bell ringing in March.

Throughout her treatment, Sophie's beloved dog Bonnie was by her side whenever she was home.

The former Shuttleworth College student will need to continue regular check-ups and when she turns 20 she will be able to have her eggs counted to see if the treatment has affected her fertility.

Since she was already very ill when treatment began, there was no time to collect and freeze the eggs.

Ms Claxton said: “I still find it difficult to process what has happened to me over the last three years.

“It was such a huge shock when they told me I had cancer. I could hardly take this news because I was only 16 years old. But now I’m experiencing the other side and already loving life at university.”

Ms Claxton was nominated by her mother, Michelle Bebb, to participate in one of the UK's national cancer trials. Star Awards when she was first diagnosed.

Ms Claxton's two younger sisters also received a certificate for their courage and support during her treatment.

Ms Bebb said: “We were devastated when we were told Sophie was so unwell. It was hard for us, including her sisters.”

“At the time, we just needed to get through it as best we could while being in the eye of the storm. But in a way, I worry about her more now, and every time she has a cough or a cold, I feel very anxious.”

“But we are incredibly proud of her determination and the fact that she continues to push forward no matter what.”

The Star Awards are supported by a host of famous faces, including children's poet and author Joseph Coelho, American singer, dancer and reality TV star JoJo Siwa, pop icon Pixie Lott, TV presenter Dr Range and children's TV favorite Mr Maker.

Every child nominated for a Star Award receives an award as the charity believes every child diagnosed with cancer deserves special recognition.

Jane Bullock, from Cancer Research UK, said: “We are committed to driving progress so more children and young people can live longer and better lives without the risk of cancer.

“After everything Sophie has been through, it was an absolute honor to recognize her incredible courage with the Star Award.

“A cancer diagnosis is heartbreaking at any age, but it can be particularly difficult for young people, especially when many of them may experience lifelong side effects from treatment.”

She added that the awards were “a wonderful way to give these outstanding children and young people the special recognition they truly deserve.”