EXCLUSIVE: When Tamelia Felway complained of tiredness and aches, what her mum says were originally put down to growing pains were eventually the subject of a devastating diagnosis
Cheryl grew concerned when Tamelia continued feeling tired and complaning of aches and pains(Image: Kennedy News and Media)
A mum claims her daughter quit dance lessons due to ‘growing pains’ – but it was a sign of a ‘golf-ball-sized’ tumour hiding in her throat.
Cheryl Barber says she became concerned with 11-year-old Tamelia Felway’s tiredness and ‘aches and pains’ in September 2022. The keen dancer quit her hobby, began gaining weight and experiencing mood swings so worried Cheryl sought advice from their GP.
She claims she was reassured the issues were just ‘growing pains’ and ‘puberty’ and that Tamelia’s blood tests were normal. In September 2024 Cheryl noticed a lump on her daughter’s throat and after more than a year of tests and appointments the lump was removed.
Tamelia enjoyed dancing from a young age(Image: Kennedy News and Media)
Medics at Great Ormond Street Hospital confirmed Tamelia had thyroid cancer in November 2025 and Tamelia began radiotherapy in May 8.
Cheryl says she ‘trusted her gut’ to push through the ‘lengthy’ diagnosis process and is urging other parents to do the same. The full-time mum has set up a GoFundMe to help pay for trips to hospital while also caring for her two-year-old daughter, Lily.
Cheryl, from Uxbridge, West London, said: “It was like the light just disappeared from her eyes: “She was having a lot of symptoms for a long time like tiredness and aches and pains in her legs and after tests that was put down to other factors like growing up, puberty and childhood stuff.
Tamelia had to undergo cancer treatment(Image: Kennedy News and Media)
“She had danced since she was four years old but she just couldn’t do it anymore because she was just too tired after school. She didn’t want to go anywhere anymore, she was too tired but after being told it wasn’t anything sinister I just thought it was just how she was growing up.
“She was putting on all this weight and couldn’t understand why and I thought well it was because she wasn’t dancing anymore but the reality is that it was something in her thyroid. I just noticed a lump one Saturday morning when she walked downstairs and it was just there – big and bold in your face.
“It was in the middle [of her throat] but leaning more towards one side and it was like a golf ball. Immediately alarm bells rang, I felt completely sick and went into a massive panic.”
She has two different types of cancer(Image: Kennedy News and Media)
Cheryl says Tamelia has two different types of thyroid cancer but she isn’t sure what stage it’s currently at. Her GoFundMe has raised more than £3,200 since being set up.
You can donate to Tamelia’s GoFundMe here: Donate to Help support Tamelia through her Cancer journey, organized by Cheryl Barber
Cheryl claims doctors say the cancer could’ve been in Tamelia’s thyroid for three years and says she knew the issues weren’t just growing pains.
Cheryl said: “[Doctors] think the cancer could’ve been there for three years but at that time I was kind of led to believe it wasn’t anything sinister. I was told from the blood tests and examinations of her legs and back that everything was all clear and okay.
Cheryl claims doctors believe Tamelia’s cancer could have been growing for years(Image: Kennedy News and Media)
“We can’t be 100% sure those symptoms were connected but I can’t really see any other reason for them. I’m frustrated and angry that there was nothing pointed in any direction for doctors to pick up when I knew in my gut something wasn’t right.
“I didn’t believe it was growing pains but the process of going through anything right now is so long. Just follow your gut because I knew it was something else so that’s why I carried on.”
Thyroid cancer facts (NHS info)
Thyroid cancer is cancer that’s found in the thyroid gland in the front, lower part of your neck.
The main symptoms are a lump of the neck, a hoarse voice, sore throat and difficulty swallowing or breathing.
Treatment will often involve surgery but may also include hormone therapy, radioactive iodine treatment, radiotherapy or chemotherapy.