Edinburgh girl, 7, diagnosed with rare bone cancer after rugby injury failed to heal

A young Edinburgh girl was handed a devastating rare bone cancer diagnosis after an injury she suffered while playing rugby failed to heal.

Sophie Henderson, seven, was training at Forrester Rugby Club when she twisted her leg during training on February 26 earlier this year, this led to her limb swelling directly after the incident.

Parents Tracey and Stewart, from Corstorphine, noticed that something was not right so they decided to head to the GP after Sophie complained of constant aching, the Daily Record reports.

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The schoolgirl, who has been a rugby enthusiast since the age of four, was sadly diagnosed with a Osteosarcoma tumour in her knee following scans on March 6.

She is now undergoing chemotherapy at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in the capital.

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Speaking to the Record, mum Tracey said: "Sophie started having pains in her knee which came and went but we just thought it was because she had twisted her leg at rugby training.

"Her leg appeared very swollen and was causing her discomfort but then she began limping we made an appointment with the GP.

"Less than a month later the doctor referred her to have a scan which showed a tumour in her knee.

"This has been the biggest shock to our family. It still hasn't hit home that this is actually happening."

Sophie's heartbroken parents said their once active little girl is now no longer able to walk on her own and is also struggling with the side effects of her brutal treatment plan.

Tracey continued: "Sophie can't stand or walk without support. She has lost all of her hair and her feet and mouth are covered in blisters.

"This has really affected her eating and she has lost so much weight with the chemotherapy.

"She's been receiving transfusions to build up her white blood cells and we are currently waiting for a date to get a feeding tube put in for her."

Tracey and Stewart face an anxious wait to find out how the primary three pupil's tumour will respond to the treatment.

The doting mum added: "Sophie has been in and out of the High Dependency ward and is very poorly at the moment. She is very tired all the time and sleeps a lot.

"When she is awake she has FaceTime with her family but seeing her like this is heartbreaking.

"She's not that happy little girl anymore with a smile. I miss that cheeky smile and want to see it on her beautiful face again."

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Sophie is due to have an operation to remove as much of the tumour as possible at the end of May and family are praying she will be strong enough to undergo the major surgery.