Date: 7 days from 2nd Sunday in May
Join to World Retinoblastoma Week to save eyes and spread information about Retinoblastoma – a early childhood cancer.
Focus: achieving early diagnosis through awareness of white pupil as the most common early sign of retinoblastoma, and increasing understanding of global issues in care for children and families.
Be part of annual life- and sight-savingWorld Retinoblastoma Week campaign!
Facts About Retinoblastoma
- Rb is a fast growing eye cancer affecting babies and young children.
- A white glow in a child’s eye is the most common early sign of this cancer
- 96% of children are cured today in the developed world, but many lose one or both eyes or suffer significant vision loss due to late diagnosis.
- 90% of children with Rb live in less economically developed countries, and most are diagnosed too late to save their lives.
- Global survival is below 20%.
- Please join us in sharing this simple message: a white glow In a child’s eye could be a sign of cancer – early diagnosis saves sight and early surgery saves lives!
रेटिनोब्लास्टोमा – बच्चों की आंखों का कैंसर
Frequently Asked Questions About Retinoblastoma by Parents, Family, & Friends
What is retinoblastoma?
Retinoblastoma (reh-tin-oh-blast-oma) is a childhood cancer arising from immature retinal cells in one or both eyes. The tumors develop in the human fetus, newborns, infants (premature and full-term), and preschoolers under age five years. ….Read more
What are the most common signs/symptoms of retinoblastoma? How can I tell if my child has retinoblastoma?
Among infants and children, common signs of retinoblastoma include having a white “glow” or “glint” in the pupil of one or both eyes, the presence of a white pupil in a color photo, and crossed or misaligned eyes. This could indicate retinoblastoma or other ocular diseases.
What causes retinoblastoma?
The gene associated with retinoblastoma causes the tumor only when it is not working properly. Humans have two copies of this “tumor suppressor” gene that protect them against retinoblastoma and other tumors in each cell in their bodies. When both copies of this gene stop or are prevented from functioning properly, this cancer develops.
Who is at risk?
Ninety percent of retinoblastoma patients have no family history of the disease and only 10 percent of newly diagnosed patients have other family members who are retinoblastoma survivors.
Who should I contact to find out if my child has retinoblastoma?
Call your primary care physician and ask for an immediate appointment. Request the physician do a pupil dilation in both eyes before examining. If your pediatrician is unable or unwilling to do the pupil dilation, request the name of a pediatric ophthalmologist. If the physician says everything is fine and you do not agree, insist on a referral.
