Sisters Face Cancer Diagnoses After Separate Illnesses in Leicestershire

Two sisters from Hinckley, Leicestershire, were diagnosed with cancer at different times, with Odette developing a brain tumour in 2022 and Eliza later being diagnosed with leukaemia in 2024. Their parents Tom and Sophie sought medical explanations after both children became seriously ill.

According to BBC News and AOL, Odette was three years old when doctors found a large mass on her cerebellum after concerns about her health led to further checks. She has since undergone 15 surgeries and spent nearly eight months in hospital.

Doctors now monitor Odette with yearly scans, while Eliza is continuing treatment expected to finish in spring 2027 after two and a half years of care. The family also underwent genetic testing to investigate whether the two diagnoses were connected.

Tom said the family struggled to accept Eliza's diagnosis after already experiencing Odette's treatment journey.

"We were asking them to double check. 'Are you sure because that seems a bit unfair'" Tom said.

Tom said genetic testing did not appear to show a link between the sisters' illnesses.

"We thought that there must be some kind of link," Tom said. "We went through all the genome testing and everything else. It doesn't look like it from what we can tell."

Sophie said doctors told the family the two diagnoses appeared unrelated.

"They said it just unfortunately looked like really bad luck." Sophie said.

She described the family's response as a mixture of emotions after learning there was no clear medical explanation.

"I don't really know how to feel about that because half of you wants that reason really that both of your children have gone through this, but then the other half is relieved that, OK, well there isn't anything." Sophie said.

"It's a conflict of emotions really." Sophie said.

Odette's illness was discovered after her parents noticed health concerns and sought medical advice. Sophie described the steps that led from an eye examination to hospital treatment.

"We took her to the GP a couple of times who advised us to go for an eye test" Sophie said.

"Unfortunately, that eye test found that she had a swollen optic nerve, some swelling at the back of the eye and we were told to go to A&E." Sophie said.

"Unfortunately, that showed a large mass on her cerebellum at the back of her head." Sophie said.

When Eliza became unwell, the family initially believed she was recovering from an infection before seeking emergency medical care.

"We noticed that she had maybe some blue lips and she was a bit pale when we were taking her swimming." Tom said.

"We thought she was cold or fighting off an infection - but then she showed some weakness on one side." Tom said.

"So, we called 111 and they sent us to A&E - then it turned out that she had leukaemia." Tom said.

Tom described differences in the sisters' personalities during their treatments, calling Odette the more responsible child and Eliza more energetic.

"more responsible" Tom said of Odette.

"a bit more of a firecracker" Tom said of Eliza.

Sophie said the sisters have sometimes compared their medical experiences, finding familiarity in shared treatments while facing difficult circumstances.

"It's been sort of sweet yet horrifying that they've both had similar things, so like the NG (nasogastric) tube and they've both had Hickman lines for their medications and Odette's like 'wow, I remember when I had that'" Sophie said.

The charity When You Wish Upon a Star arranged a day trip to Lapland for the sisters in 2025. Chief executive Joe Williamson said the organization had supported the family during their journey.

"It has been an absolute privilege for When You Wish Upon a Star to get to know the family and to play a small part in the journey of two very special girls, Odette and Eliza" Joe Williamson said.

"Their family has been through more than most of us could ever imagine." Joe Williamson said.