THE parents of an 11-year-old girl who lost her left leg to a form of bone cancer have urged people to heed warning signs.

Mia Lloyd, of Penparc, was diagnosed with an osteosarcoma which ultimately led to amputation.

Although the schoolgirl is currently free from cancer following a series of life-saving operations and months of intensive chemotherapy, her mum and dad Emma and Eurig have warned parents to be vigilant for signs of sarcoma, one of the most difficult cancers to diagnose.

They recalled that when Mia first complained to Emma about a sore knee, she thought it might be a sports injury. But when she started limping, Emma and Eurig suspected it was something far more serious.

“She first told us that she had a little pain, or a niggle I suppose, in her left knee,” said Emma. “She was so active and ran competitively. We thought it was a sports injury.”

Mia’s GP subsequently sent her for an X-ray which revealed a tumour that had spread to her lungs.

Faced with surgery, Mia was given the stark choice of having her leg saved despite the loss of her femur which would leave her unable to participate in sports.

The second option was to remove her left leg completely, but still leave her able to take part in sports with the aid of a prosthetic leg.

Mia took the second option and now hopes to take part in the Paralympics.

“When the word cancer was mentioned we knew it was serious,” said Eurig. “It was a big shock, especially for a young girl.

“If injuries keep coming back, people need to go to the doctor and get it checked out.”