Sydney Girl’s Wilms Tumor Shrinks After Chemotherapy Before Kidney Removal Surgery

Doctors told Katie Cullen and her husband in January 2026 that their 4-year-old daughter Ayla had stage 3 Intermediate Risk Wilms tumor. The diagnosis followed a CT scan and other imaging at a hospital in Sydney, Australia. Ayla had shown symptoms throughout 2025.

She woke early most days, fell asleep during short car trips, developed hives that came and went, ate less, appeared bloated, and complained of tummy pain. Two blood tests returned normal results. An ear, nose and throat specialist examined redness under her eyes, and an allergist checked the hives and constipation.

Her regular GP expressed no concern. Later in 2025 Cullen found a lump in Ayla's belly. Staff at urgent care said it was probably constipation that had been present for 12 months. The next day a GP felt the abdomen and determined the liver was enlarged.

Bedside ultrasound, X-ray, further ultrasounds, tests and a CT scan led to hospital admission. Ayla began chemotherapy. After four rounds the tumor shrank from 11 centimeters to 6 centimeters. She then underwent surgery to remove her right kidney and the tumor, followed by 16 days of radiation.

She has completed 14 weeks of a 27-week chemotherapy protocol and uses a feeding tube for nutrition. Cullen, 30, lives in Sydney with her husband and three children. She documents the journey on TikTok under the handle @kcullenx and said parents should trust their instincts and keep asking questions when something does not seem right.