It’s not unusual for a 7-year-old child to have a loose tooth. But when a mom and dad in England discovered that their 7-year-old’s tooth was loose, they found it strange because it wasn’t a baby tooth. It turns out they were right to be concerned. Eventually, their son was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma, a rare and fast-growing cancer.
The strange loose tooth prompted the parents to take their son to the dentist.
In May, the boy, whose name is Freddie, told his parents, Charlotte and James, that his tooth was loose, The Independent reported. At the time, the parents found it strange — but they really started to worry the following day, when his mouth looked swollen.
When the child saw a dentist, he was given antibiotics to address the issue.
But it didn’t get better.
The parents grew increasingly concerned when the treatment the dentist provided didn’t seem to work. They took him back to the dentist and were referred to a hospital. At that point, the dentist told the parents that the issue was concerning (and not normal).
In addition to giving Freddie more antibiotics, medical staff at the hospital also performed a biopsy and removed the affected tooth. He was later diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma. Now, the parents are urging other parents to advocate for their children but also stay positive when faced with a scary diagnosis.
“Listen to your gut and advocate fiercely for your child, even when it’s uncomfortable,” Charlotte told The Independent. “Once things start moving, hold onto hope — children are stronger than you think, and you are too.”
The cancer was caught fairly early.
Freddie is now undergoing chemotherapy. Though the cancer is aggressive, most children respond well to treatment, according to Cleveland Clinic. Burkitt lymphoma is rare, affecting about four in 1 million children in the United States. It’s even less common in adults, and is most commonly diagnosed between the ages of 3 and 12, the clinic notes.
Though the cancer is curable, James said hearing “that cancer word” is still anxiety-inducing and “upsetting” as a parent. But he encouraged other parents to “remain positive for the child.”
