For too long childhood eye cancer (Rb) has been shrouded in darkness. Children are left in the dark because some or all of their vision has been stolen. Parents and healthcare professionals are in the dark because of lack of awareness. The Childhood Eye Cancer Trust (CHECT) aims to raise awareness and drive down the time it takes for a child to be diagnosed with Rb in the UK. The quicker a Rb diagnosis is made the better the chances are of saving a child's sight, eyes and life.
Every year in the UK around 50 children under the age of 5 will develop eye cancer. The diagnosis times for this rare cancer are far too long because of lack of awareness amongst parents and healthcare professionals. As a result this devastating cancer continues to grow and the child shows no symptoms of being unwell. This silent cancer is stealing the sight, eyes and in some rare cases, lives of young children.
In raising awareness of this deadly cancer amongst parents and healthcare professionals we aim to drive down the time of diagnosis. Statistics from information provided by parents of children diagnosed in 2015 show a very unacceptable 9 week average time for the child to be seen by an Rb professional. This is 4.5 times longer than the National Institute for Clinical Guidance (NICE) guidelines which are for a child to be seen within 2 weeks.
A child receiving a swift diagnosis means the cancer can be treated immediately and could be the difference between saving a child's sight, saving a child's eye and in some extreme cases, saving a child's life. A quick diagnosis can mean that treatment is less invasive and have less lifelong effects such as hearing loss and kidney damage.
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