Girl, 12, Dies From Rare Cancer—The
Parents Discover Rare Cancer After Spotting Lump on Daughter’s Shoulder
When Ben and Aby Phelps noticed a lump on their 12-year-old daughter Beth’s shoulder while she was brushing her teeth, they didn’t expect it to be a sign of a rare and deadly cancer—Ewing sarcoma.
Tests revealed a 7 cm tumor in Beth’s left lung. She underwent chemotherapy, surgery to remove her left scapula, and radiotherapy. “She had no symptoms that stood out. Beth was a healthy little girl,” said Ben. After nine months of treatment, Beth was declared cancer-free.
But in June 2022, Beth began feeling pain in her right shoulder. The cancer had returned, this time spreading. Her parents were offered a clinical trial but instead chose palliative care. “We chose to make her time left as comfortable as possible,” said Ben. Beth died on October 3, 2022, just 12 days before her 13th birthday.
“She took her last breath surrounded by me, Aby, the dog and our cat, Monkey,” Ben shared. “Beth was funny, quick-witted and beautiful. She is with me forever.”
Now, Ben is cycling across the UK—from Land’s End to John O’Groats—to raise funds for the Bone Cancer Research Trust (BCRT). “Beth is my guiding light and inspiration always… We miss Beth every day, and we are determined to make a difference in her name,” he said.
Louise Everett of BCRT added, “This is an incredibly inspiring challenge that Ben is taking on. We’re grateful that people like Ben want to keep raising vital funds and awareness.”
