Devon Mum's Cancer Appeal

Comments

A simple photograph can help diagnose a rare form of eye cancer in children, instead of 'red eye' looking for 'white eye' can make a difference.

A Devon mum is trying to increase awareness in parents to look out for the symptons and seek medical help as soon as possible.

They noticed a squint in Lillia but didn't go to the doctors until a few months later by then laser treatment was not an option as she's had to undergo 6 cycles of intensive chemotherapy to save her life.

Retinoblastoma is a type of cancer that affects the lining of the eye (the retina). It is very rare, affecting around 40 children a year in Britain about 3 per cent of all childhood cancer cases.

Mum Natalie

Retinoblastoma is an embryonal tumour and as such, most cases occur in very young children.

Retinoblastoma occurs in two forms, heritable and non-heritable, and it can be either unilateral (one eye) or bilateral (both eyes). All children with bilateral tumours have the heritable disease, whereas only 10 per cent of unilateral cases have the heritable form.

Almost all of those affected are under five, with more than 40 per cent of the incidence occurring within the first year of life.

Most of the bilateral cases which represent just over a third of cases overall are diagnosed in the first year of life.

Go to Lillia's webpage: CLICK HERE

For more information, checks and symptoms: CLICK HERE