Unusual glow in child’s eye turns out to be a sign of cancer
A mum has shared how an unusual glow in her son's eye she spotted while he was playing in the sun turned out to be a sign of cancer.
In August last year, Megan Brimson, 28, from Isle of Wight, noticed that her son, Arlo's right eye had an unusual white glow while he was outside playing.
"I noticed something and the next day my sister, who was looking after him for the day, called and said his eye was completely white when he was directly in the sunlight," Megan, a singer, explains.
"I was pregnant at the time and had my health visitor coming that week so I thought I would ask her advice.
"She said to take him straight to the hospital.”
Arlo, who had just turned five, was taken to St Mary's Hospital, Newport, Isle of Wight for a routine eye test and an ultrasound.
"At this point, we knew there was something wrong," Megan continues.
"The doctor told us there was a very large mass at the back of Arlo’s eye, he then called another doctor out of surgery to have a look at the photos.
"This doctor was from Moorfields Eye Hospital, and while he didn't confirm it was cancer, he made the referral to the Royal London Hospital.”
The family travelled from the Isle of Wight to London for the assessment where Arlo was put under general anaesthetic.
Following the examination doctors diagnosed Arlo with retinoblastoma - a rare type of eye cancer that can affect young children - and confirmed he would need an operation to remove his right eye.
Speaking of the moment Arlo was confirmed with having cancer Megan says: "Being 36 weeks pregnant at the time I was extremely emotional.
"I rang my mum first and told her and then she said that she would tell the rest of the immediate family for us.
"My husband also made phone calls. He was my rock throughout it all."
Arlo had enucleation - where the eye is removed - in August 2023, followed by four rounds of chemotherapy.
Megan's partner, Richard, a digital designer says: "We were made aware he would have to go under and have an overnight stay.
"He went for his operation soon after going in and he wasn't very trusting of doctors and nurses - it took us a while to get him used to his surroundings.
"When we had him come out of theatre that was when it got horrible and stressful.”
"You can do all the prep work in the world with a child but that shock is always there.
"The first night was tough, he would wake up every half an hour and be distressed."
Thankfully Arlo has "recovered well" and is waiting for a prosthetic eye.
"Arlo is doing so well, we are so incredibly proud of him," Megan says.
"He's cleaning his eye himself, we've had his moulding done for his prosthetic eye and he stayed awake for his post-op appointment.
"He used to sleep a lot at appointments as he used to tell us that 'time goes quicker when you sleep’.
"He's also back at school full time and is loving it."
What is retinoblastoma?
The NHS describes retinoblastoma as a rare type of eye cancer that can affect young children, mostly affecting children under three years of age.
The disease can be in one or both eyes and affects the back of the eye (the retina).
Treatments are available and it can usually be treated successfully if the cancer is discovered early.
The health service says retinoblastoma is often linked to a change in a gene that controls the growth of the eye. It can also run in families.
Symptoms of retinoblastoma
The Childhood Eye Cancer Trust (CHECT) says that typical signs of retinoblastoma include a white glow, which may only appear in certain lights, or a squint, as well as a change in the appearance of the eye or a swollen eye, although often only one sign or symptom is present.
Richard Ashton, Chief Executive of CHECT said: “Retinoblastoma is rare, with around one baby or young child being diagnosed in the UK each week.
"Symptoms can be quite subtle, and children often seem well in themselves which can make it hard to diagnose. In just under half of all cases, a child must have an eye removed as part of their treatment.”
Richard adds, “We are grateful that in Arlo’s case, his symptoms were recognised so that he could receive treatment.
"If you are worried that a child you know may have retinoblastoma, please get them seen by a GP or optician ASAP.
"Contact the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust support team at support@chect.org.uk and they will provide you with information to take along to your appointment”.
Additional reporting SWNS.
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