Heartbreaking photo shows the reality of childhood cancer

A family have released a heartbreaking photograph of their toddler undergoing cancer treatment to highlight the reality of childhood cancer.

Sophia Soto, now six, from Florida, US, was diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma at just 14 months old after tumours were discovered behind her eyes and on her kidney.

The heart-wrenching photograph is of Sophia having a lead put on her chest as part of her cancer treatment.

But luckily little Sophia has been in remission for five years and now looks like a completely different child compared to the one in the photograph.

"The picture of Sophia upset really does home in on the reality of childhood cancer. She was having a lead put on her chest for her treatment - which she didn't want - hence why Sophia was so upset,” her mum, Rosie, 40, said.

"I look back at the picture now and wonder how I did it; it was so hard watching my little girl so ill."

Rosie became concerned about Sophia after she began developing bruising around her eyes - something she claims doctors repeatedly dismissed as being from bump or fall.

It wasn't until Rosie took Sophia to see an eye specialist that she learned the bruising could be the result of tumours behind her eyes.

"She was sent for an MRI where black spots appeared on the scans confirming the tumours behind her eyes.

"It was then the biopsy which found the tumours on one of her kidneys as well which led to her stage 4 Neuroblastoma diagnosis," Rosie said.

After being diagnosed in March 2014, the then 14-month-old endured 60 rounds of chemotherapy, 20 rounds of radiation and a stem cell transplant over a six months period.

Following her treatment, Sophia has been in remission since November 2014 and has been medication free for two years.

Sophia isn't yet classified as “cancer free” so still goes for check ups every six months with specialists.

The brave six-year-old still has tumours behind her eyes which cannot be removed due to the placement of them, but doctors believe they are benign and therefore not causing Sophia too much harm.

"Doctors are reluctant to remove the tumours Sophia currently has behind her eyes as they've said it would be likely the surgery to disfigure her face,” Rosie said.

"Whilst they are tumours, doctors are reasonably confident that they are not cancerous so we have decided to not have the surgery right now, but it may be something she has when she's older."

Sophia now looks like any other fun-loving child and from her appearance, you would never know she had cancer.

She loves to dance and hopes of becoming a vet one day.

"No one can imagine what she went through looking at her now - she just looks like a normal regular child,” Rosie said.

"Sophia has her moments when she asks about when she was sick and has questions about her treatment scars, but over all she's a pretty happy girl.

"If I was to say anything to other parents with children battling cancer, I'd say to them to not give up, stay positive and keep your faith.

"It's really important not to compare your child's process to anyone else as everyone battles illnesses differently as every situation is different.

"We're over the moon that Sophia is now doing so well - we're really blessed that she's such a fighter," she said.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.