Mum and Daughter, 12, Face Heartbreaking Double Cancer Diagnosis in UK

A family from Wirral is facing an "unspeakable double cancer crisis" as a mother and her 12-year-old daughter received diagnoses of the same illness mere months apart.

Janne Fitzsimmons, aged 49, along with her 12-year-old daughter Holly Fitzsimmons from Heswall, found themselves facing an agonizing situation following receiving two profoundly difficult medical diagnoses.

In January 2025, Janne, who has three children, received an advanced stage diagnosis for gynaecological cancer following her visit to the doctor in November 2024 because of persistent migraines.

The duo will need to endure intense therapy for their respective ailments. (Image: Umeeda Nathoo)

Three months later, as Janne underwent chemotherapy, their daughter Holly, who had been experiencing neck pain, received news of her own diagnosis. Doctors found a 10cm ependymoma tumor in her neck and spinal cord during examinations.

A close acquaintance of the family, Louise Mutch, informed the Globe : “The impact on the family is very difficult to put into words.

The pressure they're experiencing is enormous, and I genuinely wouldn't impose it even on my greatest adversary. It has merely been a terrible period.

After receiving her diagnosis, Janne has been going through rigorous chemotherapy sessions at Clatterbridge Hospital and is scheduled for significant specialized abdominal surgery.

On April 9, Holly faced an extremely intricate and perilous eight-hour operation at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital. During this procedure, the medical team had to extract her vertebrae and carefully slice through tissue surrounding her spinal cord to excise the tumor.

Jane Fitzsimmons, aged 49, along with her 12-year-old daughter, Holly Fitzsimmons, (Image: Umeeda Nathoo)

Louise remarked, "The surgery Holly had was extremely risky. There was a significant chance of damaging her spinal cord during the procedure. So, I cannot begin to fathom the emotions the family experienced as Holly underwent the operation."

Fortunately, the surgery was successful, and she is now progressing well, managing to move around and even walk, though she still requires considerable assistance with everyday activities.

Holly will now require daily proton beam radiotherapy for six weeks at The Christie in Manchester to address any remaining cancerous cells.

Louise remarked, "It's devastating that such young individuals must endure radiation therapy. It truly breaks my heart."

Holly is undoubtedly a beautiful little girl. She has always been enjoyable company. She enjoys acting and is passionate about football, though she hasn’t had the chance to play this season.

When discussing her neck pain, Janne accompanied her to both physiotherapists and physicians; however, none of them anticipated—in even their most horrific dreams—that this could be due to cancer.

Janne is an exceptionally clever woman who has dedicated all her efforts to investigating her condition and ensuring she does everything possible to recuperate and maintain good health.

She’s exploring various therapeutic options such as oxygen therapy. Alongside traditional treatments including chemotherapy and extensive abdominal surgery, she is also pursuing complementary therapies and ensuring her body receives the highest quality nutrients to maximize her chances of recovery.

She truly excels as a mother, with her children being incredibly vital to her. She strongly desires to maximize her chances since her family relies heavily on her.

It’s all happening simultaneously. The hardest part for Janne right now is that she desperately wants to support her daughter, yet she will be in intensive care while her daughter continues with her treatment.

In addition to the emotional toll on the family, they are facing growing financial pressures because both Janne and her husband Andrew, who are self-employed, cannot work owing to her treatments. With Andrew having to care for his wife and their daughters, the household lacks a steady source of income throughout this crucial time.

To assist the family financially, Louise, together with two other close relatives, Eleanor Davey and Umeeda Nathoo, have established a crowdfunding page. to assist the family in covering medical expenses.

Louise commented, "They have been completely overwhelmed and impressed by the reaction. Every donation, whether large or small, means a great deal to them."

It highlights the strength of unity within a community, demonstrating how everyone is coming together to support each other. This has been incredibly meaningful for them and has made them feel less isolated during these times.

They are immensely thankful for all the support and prayers they have received.

You can contribute to the fundraising effort here.