RETINOBLASTOMA - CANCER OF THE EYE

 

 A dangerous crossing for little Peter and his family.

 

THIRD COMMONEST CANCER IN PNG CHILDREN

RETINOBLASTOMA. This is a strange name. 

While it has been recorded in the past decade, it is even harder to fathom how, why and where this eerie sounding disease came from.

In the past couple of months, PNG is slowly coming to terms with this strange disease that attacks the eyes of our innocent little children.

In most cases advanced retinoblastoma disfigures our little ones and permanently blinds them if not detected early and treated.

Two of the innocent kids affected by retinoblastoma have been rescued from their rural homes and brought to Port Moresby for treatment. 

Peter from the Rai Coast of Madang, now known as Peter The Brave, was the first one found this year. 

He was flown from Lae to Port Moreby. Than followed Uwate from Makapa village, Balimo, Western province. She has a heart of courage hence the name Little Miss Courage. 

To get to Moresby, both were airlifted by former Prime Minister Peter O'Neil only after they had spent days walking, climbing mountains, crossing rivers and canoeing to the nearest roads and airstrips.

It was their struggles in the search for treatment that earned them the titles Brave and Courage.

As the picture shows, Peter and his parents had to brave a jungle trek that cut through swathes of virgin rainforests from their village in  Rai Coast. 

According to the Post-Courier's award winning health reporter GRACE AUKA SALMANG, Retinoblastoma is a cancer of the eye seen in children between the ages of 0 to 5 years and is most common at two years of age.

Port Moresby General Hospital Oncology Pediatrician Dr Gwenda Anga said: "It is the third commonest cancer seen in children from this age group while worldwide it comprises two per cent of cancers seen in children. 

Dr Anga is one of the doctors who is closely monitoring Mister Brave, little Peter from Madang and Miss Courage little Uwate from Western Province who are currently receiving treatment in Port Moresby.

Now we know what age group this dangerous disease strikes - our innocent little souls.

Uwate and her family waiting for the plane that would take her to Port Moresby.

When asked to give an update on the status of their eye condition, she said both children were received in advanced stages of their illness.

“Peter commenced chemotherapy last week, which he tolerated well, while Uwate will have chemotherapy this week. 

“Our plan for both will be to give four cycles of chemotherapy, evaluate for surgery, then chemotherapy after surgery.

“This will take us the next 7 months if all goes to plan,” Dr Anga said.

According to Dr Anga, an early sign to look out for is a white reflex in the eye.

Now this information is very important for every parent in the Pacific Islands as retinoblastoma affects a lot of our children.

“For example; similar to when you shine a light at a cat’s eye and you see whitish color in the eye, or a squint.

Little Mister Brave Peter, who had to walk for five days from his village on the Rai Coast of Madang to the main highway to catch a ride to Lae and a flight to Port Moresby.

“Late signs are eye pain and growth out of the eye.

“It is seen equally in children in rural and urban areas,” she said.

She said if parents see any of the above signs they should immediately see a pediatrician or an ophthalmologist.

She said at PMGH, over the last five years, they have seen 33 cases where 25 per cent of retinoblastoma cases are inherited while 75 per cent are spontaneous occurrences. 

“Currently, there are 15 children admitted at the cancer ward but we see about 60 children per year where 45 per cent are referred from outside provinces.

“We have a bed capacity of 12 children in the cancer ward, so if we have more patients, they are admitted to the general pediatric wards till there is space available,” she said.

 

 Getting around the rocks that have been carved out of the river gorge.