'Social butterfly' teenager, 18, dies of cancer weeks after having stomach pains

13 October 2023 , 21:15

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Kaya-Imaani Chambers, 18, died six weeks after her diagnosis (Image: Supplied)

The family of a “social butterfly” teenager who first complained of stomach pains and was later diagnosed with cancer weeks before her death have spoken of their heartache.

Kaya-Imaani Chambers, 18, visited her GP in February complaining of stomach pain and underwent tests and returned when she developed rib pains, lumps in her neck as well as coughing fits. Kaya, from Glasgow, was rushed to A&E in April and was prescribed a ten week course of antibiotics as doctors believed she had kidney stones. Weeks later she was back at hospital with a swollen arm and more tests finally discovered she had cancer She died six weeks later.

Mum Donna, 56, told GlasgowLive : “It came as such a shock to everyone. Kaya was so bubbly, funny and a total social butterfly, she loved her friends. It has been so difficult without her, I still expect to see her about the house.

"It's been hard for everyone involved because we just didn't expect her to pass so quickly. She had her entire life ahead of her and was always a straight A student. I think she chose engineering because she loved numbers but she could have done anything she wanted to.

“We had known something was wrong but for someone so young and active to receive that sort of diagnosis was devastating. Kaya had been still working up to that point and was still doing tests in university so it came as an absolute shock. We all miss her dreadfully."

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Doctors were unable to pinpoint what cancer Kaya had but it is believed to have started in her liver before spreading to her bones and lungs. Donna says that the teen was given immunotherapy and a daily tablet and had been initially responding well to treatment.

Donna is now setting up a charity in Kaya's name so families can fund private MRI scans when they are concerned about their children's symptoms. She believes an earlier diagnosis could have helped her daughter. The first fundraiser for the charity is due to take place at the Shed in the Shawlands on Friday, December 1 with further events planned in 2024.

Antony Thrower