A Global War on Retinoblastoma

Retinoblastoma is well recognised as a curable eye cancer in children. Early diagnosis and a variety of treatment options ensures the saving of lives and sight.

But this is only in developed countries. According to a UK charity Daisy’s Eye Cancer Fund there is a less than twenty percent cure rate in under-developed countries, as compared to a ninety-six percent cure rate in the UK.

Daisy’s Eye Cancer Fund is a retinoblastoma charity with a difference. It’s aim is to prevent deaths from retinoblastoma in all countries of the world.

The international charity under a different name was founded in 2004 by the parents of a child with retinoblastoma in the UK who needed to travel to Canada for treatment. In 2006, Abby White, a bilateral retinoblastoma survivor working in Kenya at the time, became involved when she received an email from parents of a child in Botswana who urgently needed treatment. The charity assisted Rati and her parents to travel to Canada for treatment. Sadly, Rati did not survive. Rati’s death highlighted the need for relevant resources, education and services to be made available to countries such as Africa.

Daisy’s Eye Cancer Fund focuses on research, education and training for health care clinic workers and families in under-developed countries, as well as providing financial and logistical support to families where local resources do not exist. There are many reasons for the high death rates in these countries. They include a lack of awareness amongst health care clinic workers and families about the need to closely monitor a child after treatment; the expense of treatment and hospitalisation; and the lack of access to medicines.

The charity is based in the UK and Canada, and has Dr Brenda Gallie’s support. Dr Gallie is a retinoblastoma specialist and has interests in the global treatment of the disease.

The site also includes fact sheets on retinoblastoma. Have a look around. It is a much needed resource.

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