Retinoblastoma is a rare form of eye cancer typically diagnosed in children before 7 years of age. It develops in the retina, a vital part of the eye that enables us to see colour and light.
It can occur in one (unilateral) or both (bilateral) eyes, though only one eye is affected in around two-thirds (60%) of all cases.
The diagnosis of retinoblastoma in young babies and toddlers may be made during routine eye examinations, following which the child should be referred to an eye specialist (ophthalmologist).
Retinoblastoma is not common. It makes up 2-3% of cancers diagnosed in children. It affects about one in 15,000 to 18,000 children.
There are two types of retinoblastoma
It is important to identify and differentiate between non-inheritable and heritable retinoblastoma as the heritable form carries other health risks that are not found with the non-inheritable form. Family members may also be at risk if the heritable form is identified.
Children with non-inheritable retinoblastoma are usually not at risk of passing down the disease to their children, and their family members are not at risk.
They also have a much lower risk of developing a second retinoblastoma tumour or other cancers, compared to those with heritable retinoblastoma.
Heritable or hereditary cancer makes up about 5-10% of all cases of cancer. Some genes function to protect us from cancer. When they are not working well, it causes hereditary cancer. We refer to genes that are not working well as faulty genes.
Individuals who carry a faulty cancer gene(s) have a higher chance of developing certain cancers over their lifetime compared to the general population. The types of cancers that they may be at increased risk of will depend on the gene(s) involved.
If you have a faulty cancer gene, you may be at increased risk of developing certain cancers. As genes are shared among family, other family members may have inherited the faulty gene and may be at increased risk of cancer too.
Genetic testing is offered to individuals where a hereditary cause of their personal and/or family history of cancer is suspected.
Genes contain the instructions that our body reads to carry out different functions. Genetic testing involves analysing your genes to understand if there are faults (i.e., mutations) that may increase the risk of diseases like cancer.
There are 3 types of results you may receive:
