Cancer of the retina in the eye – retinoblastoma – a rare cancer among children below three years, is curable provided they are given treatment at the right time, cancer specialists from L.V. Prasad Eye Institute said here on Wednesday.

On the occasion of Retinoblastoma Awareness Week, between May 13 and 19, cancer specialists from Apollo Cancer Institute and of LVPEI said that retinoblastoma is a rare and life threatening cancer ailment among the children. “Each year, worldwide only 4,000 new cases of retinoblastoma are detected. In India, we come across 1,500 new cases every year. Of these, 250 t 300 cases are treated at LVPEI. Every year, close to 750 children die due to this ailment,” Vijaya Anand Reddy, director, Apollo Cancer Institute, told press persons here on Wednesday.

The LVPEI oncologists said that cancer of the eye is characterised by the presence of a white shiny reflex in the child’s eye. “Parents must rush the child to an ophthalmologist or an oncologist after noticing the white shiny reflex. If treated in time, then 95 per cent of the children can be saved. Close to 85 per cent will have their eye balls intact and 75 per cent of the children will have their vision protected,” Head of Ocular Oncology, LVPEI, Dr. Santosh Honavar said.

The LVPEI doctors said that in addition to the whitening, parents should also look out for symptoms like swelling of the eyes and steady watering.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / News> Cities> Hyderabad / by M. Sai Gopal / May 10th, 2012