15-year-old Isla Sneddon felt chest pains and was concerned. She felt a lump in her chest, but the doctors dismissed it as anxiety. Two years later, she died of cancer. Now, her parents speak out, hoping to make a difference for the future.
Isla Sneddon from the Scottish town of Airide sought medical care for the first time in July 2022. She had chest pains after developing a painful lump in her breast, but when she saw a doctor, it was dismissed as benign hormonal changes.
Isla and her parents, Michelle and Mark Sneddon, returned home. They, like most, were confident the doctors had it all under control and knew what they were doing. However, they didn’t.
“We trusted what we were told. We believe that if Isla had been an adult presenting with the same symptoms, there would be a lot more done,” Mark told The Mirror.
“There would have been a longer investigation – she wouldn’t have been told it was something she’d grow out of. We’ll never know, but we believe that if that had been caught then, it maybe wouldn’t have got to where it was.”
Two years later, Isla Sneddon’s physician realized something was wrong. She was referred to urgent care at a breast clinic, but her case was downgraded.
“They kept saying Isla had anxiety causing everything. ‘[It] was anxiety. Isla, you’ve got pains in your chest, it’s anxiety you’ve got,'” her mother, Susan, told STV News.
Isla Sneddon’s chest pains were dismissed as “anxiety”
In September 2024, Isla’s health deteriorated rapidly, and she became seriously ill. She was diagnosed with cancer, but at that point, it had already spread to her lungs, lymph nodes, and the lining of her heart.
The Sneddon family was told her condition couldn’t be treated. Isla was told she had six months to a year left to live. In March, 2025, the girl died at only 17 years of age.
“We nursed her for six months of chemotherapy and she died in our arms in hospital. We thought we’d have a lot more time with her,” Mark said. “It was so horrible. It’s the sort of thing you see on television – it happens to other people and you don’t think it’ll happen to you.”
While Parents Mark and Michelle Sneddon are mourning the loss of their beloved daughter, they also want to make a change. They are petitioning the Scottish government to change medical guidelines and require that children who are suspected of having cancer be subject to the same maximum waiting time as adults regarding cancer referrals.
At the time of writing, their petition has gathered more than 37,000 signatures.
Parents petitioning for a change
They hope that changes will lead to earlier and more efficient diagnosis and treatment of pediatric cancer patients.
“No young person should be dismissed or have their symptoms underestimated simply because they appear healthy or are perceived to be too young for serious illness,” the petition states. “This needs to be set in stone with all agencies.”
Scotland’s Health Secretary, Neil Gray, expressed his “deepest sympathies” for the family. He told STV News that he will meet Isla Sneddon’s parents to discuss their petition.
“Right now, I should be teaching her how to drive,” Mark told the outlet. “Buying her a car. Letting her go on with the rest of her life. But, we’re sitting here mourning her death.”
He concluded, “If it helps families not to go through what we’ve been through, that’s what we want.”
Rest in peace, Isla. Find the parents’ petition here.
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