The death of 17-year-old Isla Sneddon has left her family and community reeling, but her parents are now determined to turn their grief into action. Isla, from the Scottish town of Airide, first sought medical attention for chest pains and a lump in her breast at the age of 15, but her concerns were dismissed as anxiety. Two years later, she died from cancer, leaving her family campaigning for changes to the way suspected pediatric cancer cases are handled.
Early Symptoms and Medical Dismissal
In July 2022, Isla Sneddon began experiencing persistent chest pains accompanied by a painful lump. Concerned, she visited her local doctor, but her symptoms were attributed to normal hormonal changes and anxiety. Despite her discomfort, she and her parents, Michelle and Mark Sneddon, were reassured that nothing serious was occurring.
“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.”
At the time, the family, like many, relied on the expertise of healthcare professionals and assumed that any serious condition would have been properly addressed. Unfortunately, that was not the case.
Continued Struggles and Misdiagnosis
Over the next two years, Isla’s symptoms persisted. On multiple occasions, she was repeatedly told that anxiety was the cause of her chest pains. Her mother, Susan, described the repeated dismissals to STV News:
“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.’”
It wasn’t until September 2024 that medical staff referred Isla to urgent care at a breast clinic. Even then, her case was downgraded and she did not receive the immediate intervention required. By the time her health deteriorated, the cancer had already spread extensively, affecting her lungs, lymph nodes, and the lining of her heart.
Diagnosis and Rapid Decline
When Isla finally received a cancer diagnosis, treatment options were extremely limited. Doctors informed the family that her condition was untreatable and that she had an estimated six months to a year to live. Despite undergoing chemotherapy for six months, Isla passed away in March 2025 at the age of 17.
“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.”
The loss has left a profound void for Michelle and Mark Sneddon, who had envisioned a life full of milestones with their daughter.
Petitioning for Change
In response to their tragedy, the Sneddon family has launched a petition calling for reforms in Scotland’s healthcare system to ensure that children suspected of having cancer receive the same prompt referrals as adult patients. The petition emphasizes that waiting times for pediatric cancer cases should not be longer than those for adults, advocating for equal prioritization regardless of age.
“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.”
At the time of writing, the petition has garnered over 37,000 signatures, reflecting widespread public support for changes that could prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Government Response
Scotland’s Health Secretary, Neil Gray, expressed his condolences to the family and confirmed that he plans to meet with the Sneddons to discuss their petition. The government has acknowledged the need for reviewing pediatric cancer referral processes and ensuring that young patients receive timely and thorough medical evaluations.
Mark Sneddon expressed the personal pain behind the campaign:
“Right now, I should be teaching her how to drive,” he said. “Buying her a car. Letting her go on with the rest of her life. But we’re sitting here mourning her death.”
He concluded with a message of hope for other families:
“If it helps families not to go through what we’ve been through, that’s what we want.”
Broader Implications
The case of Isla Sneddon has raised important questions about how pediatric patients are evaluated in primary care. Experts note that children presenting with serious symptoms may sometimes be underestimated due to their age, healthy appearance, or the assumption that certain conditions are less likely in younger individuals.
Advocates argue that standardized protocols for pediatric cancer referrals could ensure that concerning symptoms—such as persistent lumps, unexplained pain, or changes in health—receive immediate attention. By treating suspected pediatric cancer cases with the same urgency as adult cases, healthcare systems could improve early diagnosis rates and increase the chances of successful treatment outcomes.
Remembering Isla
Beyond policy changes, Isla’s story is also a reminder of the importance of listening to young patients and taking their concerns seriously. Her family emphasizes that early intervention can be life-saving and that dismissing symptoms as anxiety or hormonal changes without thorough investigation can have devastating consequences.
Through their petition and public advocacy, Michelle and Mark Sneddon hope that their daughter’s legacy will be one of change and awareness. They want every child to be taken seriously and for no other family to experience the same loss that they endured.
The case continues to spark conversations across Scotland about pediatric healthcare, early cancer detection, and the responsibilities of medical professionals in recognizing and acting on warning signs in young patients.